RCS messaging is a feature that Google has been advocating for quite a while. The tech giant has also been urging Apple to implement it. However, currently, Google's Wear OS does not support this feature. Messages sent from smartwatches using this operating system are treated as regular SMS texts.
Potential Changes Ahead
The good news is that this situation might soon improve. According to a report from Android Authority, the latest beta version of Google Messages has started to establish the groundwork for standalone RCS messaging on Wear OS smartwatches. This information emerged following an APK teardown conducted by Android Authority.
In the new Google Messages beta for Wear OS, there are "some flags" which suggest that standalone RCS support might be on the way for these smartwatches. Additionally, the new code hints that the devices could support voice messages through RCS, enhancing the messaging capabilities significantly.
Questions Remain
It is still uncertain whether this update will be available for non-LTE smartwatches (like the 40 mm LTE Galaxy Watch 7 currently priced at $319.99 on Amazon). Nevertheless, Google could potentially roll out RCS messaging for these models since the protocol can transmit messages via WiFi. As for when this update may be released, a specific timeline has not been provided yet.
Another important point to consider is that these code lines might have been mistakenly included in the recent Google Messages beta. If that is the case, the rollout of RCS messaging support on Wear OS smartwatches could take longer than initially expected.
