I personally use QKSMS, which isn't perfect, but it's all I've been able to stand since Signal dropped SMS support.
This RCS stuff scares me a bit, because it sounds like it will function over a data connection and not be nearly as universal of a standard as SMS/MMS is. There are already a million such apps and standards if one wants to use data for messaging. Trying to sneak it on top of SMS is very annoying. If I use my SMS app, I want my messages to be sent as such. Getting a surprise data bill shouldn't be a fear.
RCS does function over a data connection (and WiFi!), however unless you're sending large files over the wire it's probably not going to have any effect on your data bill. Text messages are a handful of kilobytes large at worst. SMS/MMS have lots of issues to do with security and capability, and most handsets support it in some form already.
Not everyone has a large data plan. I am very aware of how much messaging taxes my data plan: the entirety of my data is already used by it.
the entirety of my data is already used by it
You are mistaken.
I'm really not. 75% of my data this month has been used by Signal and Discord.
Very unsurprising that Discord consumes a bunch of data but that's not really a "messaging app".
If Signal is consuming too much data, it's because you're in too many group chats with photos and videos. You can change the settings so media will only download over Wi-Fi.
Many people do use Discord as a messaging app. I am really only using it for private messages when I am on data.
I only have two Signal contacts, and no group chats. Video is set to download only on WiFi, but I do need to be able to see images.
If you're using Discord for private messages, you are making another mistake.
You say that as if I don't already know it. But what am I supposed to do, abandon every friend who prefers it?
I don't know what you know. You're the one who said you were using it for "private" messaging. Just letting you know.
nobody thinks discord is e2ee. "private messages" usually means the same thing as "direct messages" -- messages between a defined set of people as opposed to an open group. You know and understand this term, you're just being a dick because you think that's an effective way to convince people to stop using proprietary software without basic features like e2ee. You're wrong.
I do know and understand the difference, which is exactly why I made the correction. I'm not being a dick, I'm trying to correct poor nomenclature. I'm not trying to convince anyone to do anything except make informed decisions. I'd argue that's the opposite of being a dick. But thanks for weighing in.
You're trying to "correct" the correct usage of vernacular English because you feel like reinventing the language to suit your personal idea of what it should be. English is bigger than you. The phrase "private messaging" has meaning, and it's not up to you to decide what that meaning is.
No one is trying to "sneak" anything. The ideal messaging app has advanced messaging features as the primary and then falls back to SMS if it's unavailable, and that's exactly how this works.
If you're looking for a less advanced and secure app, you can very easily install and use anything else.
If I wanted a messaging app with advanced features, I wouldn't be using the SMS app that came with my phone.
...and why not?
Because SMS is inherently feature-lite. But it's free and unlimited, which is kind of the whole point of using it over a feature-rich app that uses data.
A lot of messaging apps became popular because carriers were charging per-SMS in some countries.
Basic text messaging should consumer virtually zero data. If they are, you should consider using a different app.
Photos use a decent amount of data regardless of what app you're sending them by.
It doesn't consume much more than it does on SMS
SMS/MMS do not count toward data usage here. They are free and unlimited.
QKSMS hasn't been maintained in a while, besides one update at the start of 2023.
It may be better to go with, and I personally just use, PartisanSMS which is an improved fork of QKSMS.
That looks like it's stopped being developed too. Connect You, a Contacts app originally, is adding SMS support— but right now it kind of sucks, so we probably want to wait a bit for development.
I personally use QKSMS, which isn't perfect, but it's all I've been able to stand since Signal dropped SMS support.
This RCS stuff scares me a bit, because it sounds like it will function over a data connection and not be nearly as universal of a standard as SMS/MMS is. There are already a million such apps and standards if one wants to use data for messaging. Trying to sneak it on top of SMS is very annoying. If I use my SMS app, I want my messages to be sent as such. Getting a surprise data bill shouldn't be a fear.
RCS does function over a data connection (and WiFi!), however unless you're sending large files over the wire it's probably not going to have any effect on your data bill. Text messages are a handful of kilobytes large at worst. SMS/MMS have lots of issues to do with security and capability, and most handsets support it in some form already.
Not everyone has a large data plan. I am very aware of how much messaging taxes my data plan: the entirety of my data is already used by it.
You are mistaken.
I'm really not. 75% of my data this month has been used by Signal and Discord.
Very unsurprising that Discord consumes a bunch of data but that's not really a "messaging app".
If Signal is consuming too much data, it's because you're in too many group chats with photos and videos. You can change the settings so media will only download over Wi-Fi.
Many people do use Discord as a messaging app. I am really only using it for private messages when I am on data.
I only have two Signal contacts, and no group chats. Video is set to download only on WiFi, but I do need to be able to see images.
If you're using Discord for private messages, you are making another mistake.
You say that as if I don't already know it. But what am I supposed to do, abandon every friend who prefers it?
I don't know what you know. You're the one who said you were using it for "private" messaging. Just letting you know.
nobody thinks discord is e2ee. "private messages" usually means the same thing as "direct messages" -- messages between a defined set of people as opposed to an open group. You know and understand this term, you're just being a dick because you think that's an effective way to convince people to stop using proprietary software without basic features like e2ee. You're wrong.
I do know and understand the difference, which is exactly why I made the correction. I'm not being a dick, I'm trying to correct poor nomenclature. I'm not trying to convince anyone to do anything except make informed decisions. I'd argue that's the opposite of being a dick. But thanks for weighing in.
You're trying to "correct" the correct usage of vernacular English because you feel like reinventing the language to suit your personal idea of what it should be. English is bigger than you. The phrase "private messaging" has meaning, and it's not up to you to decide what that meaning is.
Then disable RCS chats in the settings? I doubt traditional SMS is going anywhere soon.
No one is trying to "sneak" anything. The ideal messaging app has advanced messaging features as the primary and then falls back to SMS if it's unavailable, and that's exactly how this works.
If you're looking for a less advanced and secure app, you can very easily install and use anything else.
If I wanted a messaging app with advanced features, I wouldn't be using the SMS app that came with my phone.
...and why not?
Because SMS is inherently feature-lite. But it's free and unlimited, which is kind of the whole point of using it over a feature-rich app that uses data.
A lot of messaging apps became popular because carriers were charging per-SMS in some countries.
Basic text messaging should consumer virtually zero data. If they are, you should consider using a different app.
Photos use a decent amount of data regardless of what app you're sending them by.
It doesn't consume much more than it does on SMS
SMS/MMS do not count toward data usage here. They are free and unlimited.
QKSMS hasn't been maintained in a while, besides one update at the start of 2023.
It may be better to go with, and I personally just use, PartisanSMS which is an improved fork of QKSMS.
That looks like it's stopped being developed too. Connect You, a Contacts app originally, is adding SMS support— but right now it kind of sucks, so we probably want to wait a bit for development.