I think the main point of replacing sms with rcs is that it would be the default preinstalled carrier-agnostic-protocol messaging app on everyone's phones. If signal could be preinstalled and be an open platform instead of using centralized servers then I think that would achieve the same thing. But because it isn't, it can't be the lowest common denominator that everyone falls back to if you and someone else don't have the same messaging app preferences.
Right now, you can say "use signal" all you want, but if you make a friend who isn't interested in installing a messaging app, you have to fall back to sms. Rcs is just about making a better fallback option that people won't refuse to download because it's ubiquitous and supported by even the default preinstalled messaging apps.
I hear what your saying, except RCS is not ubiquitous, is it? As I understand it, RCS defaults back to regular SMS if one party in the conversation doesn't have it, but IMO that seems to work against the benefits of RCS and delays adoption. I'm not saying Signal is the answer here and RCS has potential, but it seems like messaging is fractured and to ensure you're getting RCS like features, a choice does need to be made in terms of which app to use.
I think the main point of replacing sms with rcs is that it would be the default preinstalled carrier-agnostic-protocol messaging app on everyone's phones. If signal could be preinstalled and be an open platform instead of using centralized servers then I think that would achieve the same thing. But because it isn't, it can't be the lowest common denominator that everyone falls back to if you and someone else don't have the same messaging app preferences.
Right now, you can say "use signal" all you want, but if you make a friend who isn't interested in installing a messaging app, you have to fall back to sms. Rcs is just about making a better fallback option that people won't refuse to download because it's ubiquitous and supported by even the default preinstalled messaging apps.
I hear what your saying, except RCS is not ubiquitous, is it? As I understand it, RCS defaults back to regular SMS if one party in the conversation doesn't have it, but IMO that seems to work against the benefits of RCS and delays adoption. I'm not saying Signal is the answer here and RCS has potential, but it seems like messaging is fractured and to ensure you're getting RCS like features, a choice does need to be made in terms of which app to use.