Verizon Launching Pixel 3 Universal Profile RCS Chat On December 6

Verizon has confirmed that it will be rolling out Universal Profile RCS for the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL tomorrow, December 6, 2018. Before this confirmation, the Universal Profile RCS service wasn't expected until early next year. This Universal Profile is meant to ensure carrier interoperability and brings several cool new features.

Verizon is referring to Universal Profile RCS as chat and enhanced messaging. Google's Messages app will be where users of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will need to go to access the new functions. Verizon employees posted a full list of features for the service on Reddit.

The features of Universal Profile RCS include the ability to create messages 8,000 characters long, whereas a 160-character limit is in place now. A typing indicator that shows when the contact is typing a message is part of the update. Read receipts are supported along with large chat groups of up to 100 participants.

Videos and photos can be sent in higher quality; the exact supported resolution is unknown at this time. Users can chat over WiFi when a cellular connection isn't available post update. Larger attachments are supported than could be sent before, but exactly how large an attachment can be sent is unknown.

With the new service rolls out, chat features for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL also support local sharing, mobile payments, sending audio recordings, sending stickers, and more. It's not clear when these features might roll out to devices other than the latest Google Pixel 3 smartphones. Perhaps that will happen in early 2019 as has been rumored in the past.