(2018-04-20) Google Wants To Completely Replace Texting

Google wants to completely replace texting. The new standard is named RCS, or rich communication services. It will be deployed in Google's own Messages app on Android, the default Android text-messaging app.

the RCS standard operates on data networks (like Apple's iMessage) instead of phone networks (like traditional SMS text messaging).

RCS messages aren't as secure as iMessages; there's no "end to end" encryption.