Why is this important? Well, it’s great to see Google playing the benevolent card here by mentioning and praising said companies, as we shouldn’t forget that Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus are still pretty decent competition to both Google’s Pixel lineup as well as its Pixel Buds accessories, which didn’t even get mentioned in the same context. So, Mountain View being the grown-up in the room is definitely refreshing to see.
RCS, Google’s pride and glory that’s an important evolutionary step over simple SMS text messaging, also got some time under the spotlights at MWC’23. With end-to-end encryption and enhanced security over regular text messaging, RCS truly positions itself as a very important chapter in messaging. A recent announcement by Vodafone has it that all eligible Android phones on the Vodafone network will be able to “take advantage of RCS”, which should definitely affect lots and lots of users in a profoundly positive way.
Once again, Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Oppo once again get praised for their recent commitment to provide longer support for their recent devices. Just a few years ago, we were usually greeted with up to two years of software support on most devices, flagships included, which was definitely a bummer. However, in 2023, most of the major Android manufacturers currently offer four years of major software updates and up to five years of security patches, which prolongs the lifetime of your device.
Google will be showcasing Android and the Android ecosystem at MWC Barcelona at the Android Avenue between Hall 2 and Hall 3.
