Tech Desk 
Sep 08, 2024
Google Messages is an on-the-go app for most users that offers a wide range of features and seamless Rich Communication Services (RCS) and Short Message Service (SMS) functionality.
Recently, the app has been introduced with significant updates that include a new send button and improved group chat search. Now, it seems the Messages team is testing a minor visual change to the text field indicator.
The updated design text field indicator now reflects "RCS message" or "Text message" to denote whether it is a secured RCS conversation or a regular SMS/MMS.
Read more: Android's cross-device services launched — Instant hotspot and call sharing
The second design iteration has renamed the first two to simply "(RCS)" and "(Text)". This is an attempt to shorten the text field - take away the word "message". Good idea, but the added parentheses seem out of place.
Google Messages updates availability
Not too many users have seen this new RCS and SMS indicator, which would imply it's some sort of small experiment. It seems the Messages team is testing the design, along with how users respond to this design ahead of its wider rollout.
This minor redesign is part of the continuous improvements that Google Messages does to its application to make the user experience even better. The application keeps on evolving- considering dual SIM RCS support and improved search in group conversations are just around the corner.
