Android Letters users may occasionally see blue dots next to some of their contacts' icons in the text message list and the contacts listing, but many don't know what it means. Every smartphone has a default Messages app which is primarily used for sending texts as SMS (Brusque Messaging Service) and media files as MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) over carrier provider signals. But now, Google added RCS (Rich Advice Service) messaging support to its default Messages app for Android devices, which allows users to send or receive text and media messages with end-to-end encryption over the cyberspace.

A blue dot next to a contact profile icon on an Android phone means that the user can use the chat messaging feature with that particular contact to send or receive messages over the internet. Basically, the user can send RCS letters over the Wi-Fi or mobile data connection instead of SMS or MMS to any contact who has enabled the Chat messaging feature. To access these features, the user also needs to plow on the Conversation feature on their device, if it's not already enabled.

How to enable RCS messaging on the Messages app?

Image of Google Messages logo and screenshot.

Before enabling Chat features or RCS letters, there are some requirements that demand to exist met. Currently, the Chat feature is merely available on the Google Messages and Samsung Messages (exclusive to Samsung devices) apps. Other default messaging apps that come pre-installed on other manufacturer devices exercise not support RCS messaging service correct now. Withal, Google Letters comes pre-installed on nearly Android phones or tin exist downloaded from the Google Play Store for gratuitous. One time installed, users may have to set it as the default app for letters.

On Samsung Messages or Google Letters, the Chat feature is disabled by default, but it can be enabled in a few easy steps. Tap the three vertical dots icon in the top right corner within the Messages app, or tap on the profile picture on some devices. Go to Settings and tap on 'Chat features.' Plow on the toggle by tapping the button next to 'Enable conversation features.' Follow the on-screen education to fix it up after providing the phone number. If the feature is bachelor for the user, the 'Condition' will show connected at the top of the carte.

When the feature is enabled, while sending a text or media file, users volition see a lock symbol under the ship button icon and the dialog box will brandish 'Chat' before typing. This means the Chat feature is bachelor, and the message will be sent over the cyberspace with encryption. If users see 'SMS' or 'MMS' under the transport push button icon and the dialog box displays 'Text,' it means that the feature is not enabled or bachelor for the recipient.

In addition, Conversation letters will announced inside darker blueish bubbles compared to SMS or MMS messages in the conversation window. The Conversation features on Android text messages support more than features than SMS or MMS, similar read receipts, typing indicators, reactions to messages, end-to-stop encryption, the ability to send larger file sizes of up to 100MB, and more.

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Source: Google