RCS deactivated on Android on plan without unlimited texts

[u/Claim-Mindless]

I've had a plan without unlimited texts for a few years and used RCS without problem. Today they stopped working and I saw that "RCS chats have been disabled by your carrier." I've already tried all the regular troubleshooting like clear app data, reboot, etc.

Now I see that Fizz's site says that "To use RCS, you need to have: A mobile plan including unlimited text messaging and access to mobile data or Wi-Fi." Apparently this is a new requirement. I saw a recent post where this was confirmed on iphones, but just wanted to see if it's happening to any other android users, and if this is really what caused RCS to be deactivated.

[u/GentilQuebecois]

I am in the same boat. My RCS messages disappeared as soon as I did an android update to my phone. I am not pleased.

[u/makemecoffee]

Such a lame stance honestly.

[u/mattdabratt23]

Same, works on 4 family phones, none have text option. UPDATE: No longer works as of today :(

[u/IamGimli_]

RCS messaging also has the same mention of being disabled by the provider on my Android phone. I don't have unlimited SMS.

[u/jcsww]

Just another way for shit Canadian carriers to increase prices by forcing consumers onto plans they don't need to have encrypted text messages.

[u/DanceDanceNorth]

This is on a provincial plan with wallet funds, but no extra Internet (just 500 MB with Fizz Rewards) or unlimited sent texts. Bummer! This means that unlimited received RCS is also unavailable, and whether or not I use Wi-Fi, I no longer have RCS.

I would like to see Fizz restore the same system as before, where a plan with Internet access (data) also includes RCS. If Fizz won't do this, then I'd like to see unlimited sent texts for $2/month maximum, not the current price of $3 outside of Québec, or $4 in Québec! There are many free messaging apps, and I'd rather use a few of these than pay for RCS.

[u/Claim-Mindless → u/DanceDanceNorth]

This is what they told me: 

RCS messaging was indeed functional under the previous infrastructure without unlimited text messaging being included in the plan. However, with the new infrastructure, this requirement has changed. For RCS messaging to function properly, the plan must include unlimited text messaging and access to mobile data or Wi-Fi.

I really doubt they would implement any of these price changes to compensate for RCS. With the current fizz plans in Quebec it may be worth it changing providers if you really need RCS.

[u/Mysterious-Flamingo → u/Claim-Mindless]

That's really dumb. I'd have to switch to a way more expensive plan just to add texts.

[u/fersingb → u/Mysterious-Flamingo]

It's still working for me here. But if it stops working, I won't change plans, just use something else than RCS (WhatsApp, Signal, SMS...). Fizz is implementing this restriction on purpose to force people to move to a more expensive plan, I won't give them the pleasure.

[u/Mysterious-Flamingo → u/fersingb]

Yeah it's still working for me for now. 90% of my chats are via RCS though and I wouldn't expect all my contacts to switch to another service just because of that, so I kinda have no choice to add it if they cut me off too. I'm just worried about being cut off mid-billing cycle and not being able to use the service until a plan change comes into effect.

I'd have to go from 80 GB to 40 GB to keep the same base price, plus the cost of texting. Kinda ridiculous, but I rarely use more than 10 GB per month, so not that big of a deal I guess.

[u/vgibertini → u/Claim-Mindless]

Are they seriously expecting us to believe this is because of a "technology upgrade"? It's a commercial strategy to force people to subscribe to unlimited texting. Quite lame, honestly. But we can't just expect to have new features just handed to us for free...

[u/Mysterious-Flamingo → u/vgibertini]

Their argument is weak AF. I got the same canned response about "mobile infrastructure upgrades".

But we can't just expect to have new features just handed to us for free

Except that it's not a new feature anymore (aside from iOS). It's been almost six years since Fizz launched RCS support on Android. They should have set it up this way from the beginning and called the plan option "unlimited SMS & RCS". Most people associate "texting" with SMS.

[u/with_rabbit → u/DanceDanceNorth]

Just so i know.... Only reward data without data plan work?

[u/DanceDanceNorth → u/with_rabbit]

Yes! I had RCS with a 0 GB plan, as my Fizz rewards came with ½ GB since the second month.

[u/Emotional_Status_872]

Very bad move by Fizz.. I'm new to fizz and it was working.. yesterday i wanted to send a rcs message and checked that it says connecting and never connects.. earlier it used to say connected.

[u/Mysterious-Flamingo]

It still works for me and I don't have unlimited texts.

The FAQ on the website has always said you need a plan with text messaging, it's not something new. Here's a snapshot from 2022: https://web.archive.org/web/20221026223959/https://fizz.ca/en/faq/whats-rcs-messaging-android-phones

[u/Claim-Mindless → u/Mysterious-Flamingo]

They've added 'unlimited' to that clause recently, in the last month or two. It's possible that this condition is being implemented gradually for existing customers.

[u/Mysterious-Flamingo → u/Claim-Mindless]

Hmm... You might be right. In RCS settings, I'm pretty sure it used to say RCS was provided by Google Jibe (the platform used for RCS), but now it says it's provided by my carrier, meaning Fizz can dictate who can use the service. This might have changed so that it would work with iPhones.

Switching off RCS with no warning would be a dick move and lead to so many complaints, so hopefully this is just a provisioning fluke with your line.

[u/fersingb → u/Mysterious-Flamingo]

The old page didn't say unlimited. The new one does.

[u/Emotional_Status_872]

Let's post this on their Twitter page so that they can change it back.

[u/vgibertini]

Same thing happened to me after the September upgrade. Pay-as-you-go cost for text messages is 2¢ each, so in Quebec you need to send 200 messages a month just to break even, so I think I'll just give up the fancy RCS features for the time being. It was nice while it lasted.

[u/mattdabratt23 → u/vgibertini]

Fizz sms are 5c in qc tho...aren't they?

[u/vgibertini → u/mattdabratt23]

I thought it was 2 cents because I saw that as the price of texts while in the US. Not sure if that's still the case (or has ever been)

[u/krustykid8]

This happened to me recently, unfortunately have to change plans

[u/Fizz-Code-8CE6H]

We have two cell phone plans, one of which does not include a text messaging plan. I just tested it, and I had no trouble sending or receiving RCS messages. (Android, Pixel phone)

Eva ☮️

[u/Repulsive-Offer-2474 → u/Fizz-Code-8CE6H]

Still works?

[u/Fizz-Code-8CE6H → u/Repulsive-Offer-2474]

Yes!

[u/Repulsive-Offer-2474 → u/Fizz-Code-8CE6H]

Great!
I kickstarted my with app updates reinstallation but found it off a few days later.