Why GrapheneOS's New RCS Plans Matter for Privacy

GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is a phone operating system The core software that manages a computer and lets applications run. This would be Windows or MacOS on computers, Android or iOS for phones, for example. . It's an alternative to Apple iPhone and Google Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) , but it can only be installed on a Google Pixel phone (for now). They have a partnership with Motorola, so at least one more supported phone type will be coming in 2027! On top of that, they have a roadmap for the development they're working on that could be a big deal for tech independence.

Not sure what Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is? See my youtube video for what Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. looks like, or read my other posts about Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. first.

YouTube: my GrapheneOS phone

GrapheneOS overview and why I use a privacy phone.

GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. roadmap

Recently, GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. announced their roadmap to work on a few stock apps, including the messaging app. If you're looking to reduce or remove your dependence on big tech, the text messaging app might be the most difficult to part with. It is for me!

The Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) Open Source Software whose code is publicly available and modifiable. Transparency, collaboration, and often free as in free lunch are important parts of the open source model. Project ( AOSP Android Open Source Project ) has default apps, and GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. has used those in their operating system The core software that manages a computer and lets applications run. This would be Windows or MacOS on computers, Android or iOS for phones, for example. . Google has taken these apps and made their own enhanced versions, like the Photos app, the Messages app, and more. Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is now working on this same type of thing for themselves, and I'm really excited about it!

Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. 's plans for their messaging app are most promising. I think the biggest thing is they're also working on their own implementation of RCS. RCS is one of the reasons that my main profile settings and data that belong to one user or session has Google on it

I'll focus on RCS in this post. I want to talk about what it is and why I'm so stoked about it. I would love to be able to use my main profile settings and data that belong to one user or session without Google involved at all.

What is a profile?

To understand why this direction matters to you, it helps to understand what RCS is and why we rely on it.

What is RCS?

You likely use some flavor of RCS. This is the thing that allows you to see if someone is typing, if your message has been read, and allows sharing of higher-quality photos and video. The messages are also typically encrypted, but it depends on a few things. It differs from traditional texting, which is called SMS standard text messages sent over cellular networks (usually not encrypted) and MMS text messages that include photos or videos (usually not encrypted) . SMS standard text messages sent over cellular networks (usually not encrypted) is just a plain text message sent over the cell network. MMS text messages that include photos or videos (usually not encrypted) is group messages and can include images and gifs and things like that. Neither of those are encrypted at all, and are easy for someone else to read.

RCS takes SMS standard text messages sent over cellular networks (usually not encrypted) and MMS text messages that include photos or videos (usually not encrypted) to the next level by offering more advanced features and better security. However, a part of that security means you need a texting app that links several pieces together in order for messages to actually go through. Otherwise, you won't see them. Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. as an organization has a lot that they have to overcome and bring together in order to make it work.

RCS and GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. now

When I first switched to GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. , I used the default Messenger app. I wasn't receiving texts from some friends, and I was missing some messages in group chats. This same type of message delivery gap previously caused trouble between Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) and iOS the system running Apple iPhones and iPads communication, but that gap has since been bridged for them. I switched to the Google Messages app to see if messages then came through when RCS was turned on. When I did that, I received a ton of messages I had missed. I started using that app so I could communicate with friends and family in the way they're used to.

I ran into some trouble at one point, but it's been resolved. There was a period of a few months in 2024 or 2025, I can't remember when exactly, where I didn't receive some messages because RCS was not connecting for some reason. I stuck it out because I really liked everything else about Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. , and my solution in the meantime was to fall back on phone calls with my friends and family to stay up to date. So I wasn't planning on letting RCS come between me and my phone. I'm not sure what happened to make RCS not work for me, but eventually it did connect again. It's been at least a year since it came back on and I haven't had any issues.

RCS plans

Now that I've shared my experience with the current setup, here's what the future could look like.

That dependency on Google services with RCS chats is difficult to overcome, and I'm so happy that Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is planning to tackle it. They're doing it in stages, with each stage of development having less dependence on Google. If Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. has an RCS implementation of their own, that brings ownership and control that they're currently lacking. I think it would be a really big breakthrough.

Conclusion

Having my own RCS implementation from GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. would mean I'm one step closer to keeping my main profile settings and data that belong to one user or session de-Googled typically refers to a device that has no Google-owned services or apps on it without sacrificing reliable messaging. I like knowing that Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is tackling this challenge, and I'm really excited to see where they go next.