Key Points:
- Google Messages is testing a new design for reading receipts in RCS conversations.
- The redesign places checkmarks inside the message bubble.
- Read receipts will now appear on all previous messages.
Google Messages is experimenting with a new design for reading receipts in RCS (Rich Communication Services) conversations. This follows the previous update in early 2023. Currently, read receipts appear below a message, alongside the time/date and an RCS encryption lock.
Four icons indicate different message states:
- Timer: Your message is being sent.
- Single check: Your message has been sent.
- Double-check: Your message has been delivered.
- Color-filled double-check: Your message has been read.
In the new design being tested, these checkmarks are now placed inside the message bubble. They appear on the right side, housed in a circle that is slightly lighter than the bubble’s background. The functionality of the checkmarks remains the same, providing visual feedback on the message status.
Additionally, these redesigned read receipts will be visible on all previous messages in the conversation, not just the most recent ones. This change aims to make the read status more explicit and easily noticeable.
So far, this new design has been observed in one report, while the current system has been in use for about 17 months. By making these changes, Google aims to enhance the clarity and usability of read receipts in its messaging app.
