Google to Upgrade SMS With WhatsApp-Like Services on Android

Google is fed up with Facebook’s status quo in the social messaging market and the search giant is looking to change this scenario. The company has formed an alliance with telecom operators like Airtel, Vodafone, Telstra and Sprint among others to make it happen.

The initiative known as Rich Communication Services (RCS) has been set up by global telecom body, Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), who’re hoping to bring SMS back into fashion. GSMA, along with Google hopes to entice telcos from across the globe to unite and thereby offer alternatives to WhatsApp.

SMS in All New Avatar

The popularity of social messaging platforms like WhatsApp and WeChat have resulted in the slow death of traditional messaging over the past few years. Telcos have voiced their concern with regard to WhatsApp owing to which they have not been able to make money from SMSes. But RCS, GSMA and Google will be overhauling the current SMS ecosystem with features like video calling and location sharing aka WhatsApp.

This way, the SMS enables telcos to earn their share of money from data usage and ensures that Google can breathe a sigh of relief from Facebook’s existing dominance in this space.

It’s worth pointing out that Apple was smart enough to realise the implications of WhatsApp like services, which is why their focus on iMessage came much before Google decided to take matters in its hand.

Google vs Facebook Part II

Most of us know that Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion last year which dramatically changed the landscape of social messaging. But before Facebook-owned WhatsApp, Google was keen to buy the messaging platform for which they made a bid of $10 billion.

Google made desperate attempts to make sure WhatsApp remains an independent entity but to no avail. Earlier this month, WhatsApp officially declared that they’ve got one billion active users across the globe. Interestingly, GSMA aims to aid Google’s cause to touch over 4 billion users with the RCS program.

If Google does manage to connect half of these users, they will get a lion’s share of the users in the messaging arena, enabling telcos to earn their money as well.

Android is the most popular mobile operating system, followed by iOS and Google will be doing its best to make sure Android’s relevance to users remains intact. With SMS getting the much-needed overhaul, Facebook will be forced to look at other avenues.

So, it makes sense for Google to take the initiative and push Facebook to make its move. It will be interesting to see if Google finds the right set of partners and support to get the RCS rolling.