Google is to launch Chat as a rival service to Apple's iMessage, WhatsApp and Telegram. Based on the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, the app will not offer end-to-end encryption but will follow SMS-like legal intercept standards. The company has been working with US law enforcement agencies since 2013 in an effort to build out its own version of Signal that would be compatible with existing mobile devices. However, Google is pausing its investment in artificial intelligence-powered Allo due to slow take-up, though it still intends to support the product.
Google is to launch Chat as a rival service to Apple's iMessage, WhatsApp and Telegram. Based on the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, the app will not offer end-to-end encryption but will follow SMS-like legal intercept standards. The app will join Google's four competing messaging apps namely Hangouts, Allo, Duo and Android Messages. However, Google is pausing its investment in artificial intelligence-powered Allo due to slow take-up, though it still intends to support the product.