Observe these steps to change off of the soon-to-be-discontinued Verizon Message+ app

Not way back, major US cellular carrier Verizon introduced its intent to close down its Message+ texting service. The app remains to be listed on each the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, however the firm is urging customers to transition to an alternate quickly slightly than later.

The Verizon Message+ discontinuation started in earnest on October 2, with a full shut down slated for November 7. The company recommends Android customers change to the Google Messages app, and that iPhone customers migrate to the built-in iOS Apple Messages app.

The Verizon Message+ discontinuation comes at a time through which Rich Communications Service (RCS) assist is rising in each recognition and attain. This newer texting normal is safer and extra feature-rich than the old-school Quick Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) protocols.

“The message house is quickly altering and we wish you to have the very best messaging expertise,’ says Verizon on its official support page.

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The right way to transition away from Verizon’s Message+ app

You will need to change to an alternate texting app earlier than November 7 hits

If in case you have a Verizon Android cellphone, observe these steps emigrate off of Message+ and onto Google’s own messaging platform.

1. Navigate to the Google Play Retailer.
2. Use the Search tab to seek for Google Messages.
3. As soon as Google Messages has completed downloading and putting in, faucet on its app icon.
4. When the Google Messages app launches, faucet on Set default SMS app.
5. From right here, choose Messages after which faucet on the Set as default button.
6. Alternatively, you may faucet on the Swap Now button on the prime of your Verizon Message+ app to rapidly entry the Google Messages app listing on the Google Play Retailer.

Should you’re utilizing an iPhone, you will not must observe these steps — merely discontinue utilization of Message+ and start texting through Apple’s personal Messages app.

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Going ahead, Google Messages will now be preloaded on all Verizon Android gadgets, in accordance with the corporate. Apple’s iPhones already come preinstalled with a first-party Messages app, however this hasn’t historically been the case for Verizon-based Android handsets.

Another housekeeping suggestions: as soon as the Message+ servers shut down on November 7, you will not have the ability to ship or obtain any textual content messages utilizing the Verizon app. Any messages you could have scheduled to mechanically ship on or after this date can even not be despatched, in accordance with the corporate.

If in case you have an Android cellphone and would favor to check out a texting app that is not Google Messages, then there are a selection of choices accessible to select from on the Play Retailer. Some in style examples embody:

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RCS is the long run, and it has been a very long time coming

The RCS texting normal is superior to SMS in each method conceivable

The RCS texting normal has actually been around for a very long time, however solely in recent times has it begun to achieve any actual traction. After Google’s quite a few botched makes an attempt at creating an Apple iMessage competitor, the search large finally determined to rally round RCS know-how to enhance the Android messaging expertise.

Google’s explicit taste of RCS allows many quality-of-life texting enhancements over conventional SMS texting, most of which you are in all probability already accustomed to from iMessage, WhatsApp, and different internet-based chat companies. A few of these options embody:

• Learn receipts
• Typing indicators
• Excessive-quality picture and video sending capabilities
• Improved group chat assist
• Emoji tapbacks/reactions
• Stickers
• The power to ship messages over Wi-Fi or mobile information
• Finish-to-end encryption

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With the latest launch of iOS 18, Apple has begrudgingly enabled RCS assist for the iPhone, in an try and fight the mounting antitrust pressures confronted by the corporate.

Verizon, for its half, first began to embrace Google’s implementation of RCS earlier this 12 months. This growth got here after a notoriously unsuccessful attempt throughout the American telecommunications scene to unify US cellphone carriers underneath their very own RCS-based normal.

Within the years to come back, RCS-based messaging is anticipated to overhaul and finally absolutely supplant the antiquated SMS and MMS requirements. Most Android OEMs are actually embracing Google Messages, including the juggernaut that is Samsung. The iPhone’s roping in of RCS assist is anticipated to speed up this means of adoption, as properly.

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