Security Experts Criticize RCS, Google’s Android Messaging Partner | Re/code

Actual encryption results may vary...

"Yet the RCS security system looks to be softer than Google’s ideal — the full encryption found on a select few Android devices, which, Google claims, keeps users’ information even from Google. (Hangouts, Google’s current chat product, is encrypted like Gmail; it passes through Google’s servers and the company can, theoretically, hand it over.) Still, the issue underscores the company’s nagging issue with Android: Unlike Apple, Google has to rely on a dizzying array of carrier and hardware partners for the devices and their security.

The new messaging initiative is the fruit of Google’s acquisition of the mobile startup Jibe in September. It falls under the search giant’s muddled Communications division, which is also trying to reinvigorate Hangouts. Google is not saying if the RCS capability will be integrated into Hangouts, its native Android messaging app or an altogether new one."

Security Experts Criticize RCS, Google’s Android Messaging Partner | Re/code