5 apps you can use instead of Google Messages
These apps might not have RCS, but they stand out in other ways.
Google Messages is a leading messaging app for Android due to its RCS support, which Android Authority notes is currently only truly supported via Google's official app. While some users may not prioritize the RCS standard, several alternative messaging apps exist that utilize either SMS or proprietary web-based formats.
To combat mobile fraud, Google is introducing Enhanced protection, an opt-in setting for Google Messages. Android Police reports that Google's existing Scam Detection flags over 5 million suspected scam calls and texts monthly across the Phone and Messages apps. While the standard check runs locally on the device for contacts not in a user's list, the new Enhanced protection feature can use Google’s cloud Gemini models to analyze message context when chatting with unknown senders.
Additionally, Gemini Nano will use live web signals to rate unfamiliar links through a smarter link check.
Brief written by urgent.news from Android Authority, 9to5Google, Android Police — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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