Google Messages new feature Send Photos Faster: reduced resolution for faster sending

Google Messages, the default messaging app for Android devices, is currently testing a new setting for its Rich Communication Services (RCS) that aims to make sending photos faster. RCS is an alternative to SMS that allows for higher resolution pictures to be sent. The new "Send photos faster" toggle can be found in the app's settings, located between the "Bubbles" and "Hear outgoing and incoming message sounds" options.

When the "Send photos faster" option is enabled, the resolution of images is reduced to make the sending process faster. This feature applies to RCS rather than SMS, and it has not been widely rolled out yet. RCS works by uploading images to a cloud, similar to a backup service. Google has not announced the maximum attachment size for its implementation of RCS, although AT&T and T-Mobile list up to 100MB.

It is worth noting that Google Messages already has a feature that allows users to upload videos to Google Photos instead of sending them via MMS. Previously, Google was testing a similar option for images, but it was removed for the initial launch. This new feature for RCS could be a step in the right direction, as sending photos can be slow and cumbersome at times, especially when trying to share multiple images at once.