If you're a Verizon customer, the Pixel 3 will soon offer one of the best messaging experiences around. The nation's largest carrier confirmed it'll begin rolling out Chat, which Google announced earlier this year, to the latest Pixel phone this week. From the moment it goes live, Pixel 3 owners are set to benefit from enhanced features.
The features include typing indicators, large group chats, and transferring large files. Basically, it does everything Apple's iMessage can but without needing an iOS device to do so.
Google's Chat isn't anything groundbreaking, but it's a single RCS standard for all partners to take advantage of. For several years, Android device owners have begged for an iMessage-like feature set. As long as Chat gets rolled out around the world, exactly that will happen.
Here's what Verizon said about the news:
"… Verizon and Google will be rolling out enhanced messaging (RCS) in the Messages app on Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL beginning this Thursday, December 6."
The technology was introduced in April, but Google hasn't made too much momentum in expanding its availability. Still, there's no doubt that getting Verizon on its side will help. Only a handful of U.S. and global carriers are locked into Chat so far.
In September, Samsung decided to get behind Chat as well. The South Korean company will offer the same features on its own messaging app. With Samsung standing atop the mobile industry, that'll allow Chat to gain traction at a much faster rate. It just depends on how carriers enable it on their networks and mobile devices.
Most companies are interested in rolling out Chat throughout 2019.
