Google Voice app code hints at upcoming RCS messaging support

What the teardown found

Google Voice may be preparing to add RCS messaging, according to an app teardown by Android Authority. The publication reports that version 2026.11.01.10 of the Google Voice app contains several code references pointing toward Rich Communication Services support.

One string found in the app refers to a setting for turning RCS chats on or off. Other strings mention additional RCS-related actions, and another indicates that an RCS label would appear in the compose box alongside the existing SMS and MMS labels. Android Authority says it has seen no actual interface visuals for the feature, only references in the app's code.

The findings come from an Authority Insights report, which is based on examining the app's code rather than on an official Google announcement.

A long-standing gap for Voice users

Google Voice is a popular VoIP service, but its messaging has remained limited to standard SMS and MMS. That stands in contrast to other Google apps, most notably Google Messages, which already support RCS.

Android Authority notes that the absence of RCS in Google Voice has puzzled many users over the years. The new code references are the first sign that Google may be addressing the limitation.

What RCS would bring

If RCS is enabled in Google Voice, the service would gain capabilities that SMS and MMS cannot offer. According to Android Authority, these include end-to-end encryption, read receipts and high-resolution media sharing, among other benefits.

Those features are already common in RCS-enabled messaging apps, which makes their absence in Google Voice more noticeable for people who rely on the service.

No timeline, and no guarantee

There is no indication of when, or whether, RCS will actually go live in Google Voice. Android Authority cautions that because the evidence consists only of code references without interface elements, an official rollout could still be some way off.

The publication also notes that Google could decide not to implement the feature at all. For now, the strings are encouraging signs rather than a confirmed release, and users should treat the feature as unannounced until Google says otherwise.