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  • Signal alternative for SMS now they want to drop its support

Orphee after reading this linked in the article, which states

B. Google Play Services Telemetry
The Google Message and Dialer apps do not send data directly
to Google, but rather send data to event logging services
within Google Play Services. Specifically, to the Clearcut
logger service and the Google/Firebase Analytics service.
These Google Play Service components expose APIs that the
app uses to communicate with them. The Clearcut logger and
Google/Firebase Analytics services then batch up data received
and forward it to Google servers. The Clearcut logger sends
data to https://play.googleapis.com/log/batch while Google/-
Firebase Analytics sends data to https://app-measurement.
com/. This process is illustrated schematically in Figure 5.
The Clearcut logger and Google/Firebase Analytics services
encode the data in different formats for sending to Google.

It may be possible to revoke network access/background data of Google Play Services/GSF if not used elsewhere, and that should disable the telemetry from Google Messages. I will look into this as I am also looking for a text messaging application.

      Standardwaste Google play services is used with firebase for notifications in most of apps like protommail, signal (if Google play services installed) etc... You can't revoke its permissions without a big drawback.

          Standardwaste

          I'm curious if Gboard sends telemetry similarly. I currently use Gboard in my main profile and only have Play services installed in a work profile. But to used Google Messages, i'd have to install in the main profile with Play services. But I hadn't thought of revoking internet access for Play services.

              Orphee

              eatinggrumble84

              I currently use Molly-FOSS instead of Signal, which does not rely on firebase for notifications. For Gcam I only have GSF installed, which has all permissions revoked.

              As far as using Google messages, after looking at https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/com.google.android.apps.messaging/latest/ I find the following permissions outside what I am personally willing to install:

              CHANGE_NETWORK_STATE
              change network connectivity
              CONNECTIVITY_USE_RESTRICTED_NETWORKS
              DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION
              INTERNET
              have full network access

                    eatinggrumble84 I don't think it does. I have RCS enabled and even after receiving several messages through it in the past 24 hours it never showed as accessed in permissions. I am not going to be the guy who tests it out though because I rely on it so much. Let me know if you can send without the network permission.

                      Thanks for your messages...
                      I installed Google Message and enabled RCS to check... And I discover some of my contacts are using it already...
                      It seems their default SMS app (Samsung, OnePlus...) handle it.
                      I bet one Pixel phones default app is Google Message...
                      I will probably deal with it for SMS/RCS purpose...

                      Thank you!

                      Orphee
                      Maybe its abaddoned but stock sms app is abbadoned also, it havent changed since about android 5.0/6.0 😄
                      Its just sms, not every software has to be updated daily 😃

                          mjnck I agree but looking at GitHub issues it seems there are actually some bugs currently happening and annoying. (Dual sim)

                            I see others here mentioning using Google Messages. This was going to be my solution for now, however even with GSF installed with all permissions granted, Google Messages throws an error about Play services needing Files and Media permission.

                            I'm not seeing this permission listed under permissions anymore. I know it used to be.

                              WickedMainah to be honest I did not give any of requested permissions to play services and blocked the notification.
                              I did not see any issues yet.
                              Phone and sms was needed only for RCS activation

                                  Orphee I think I fixed it by resetting the storage related permissions and installing Carrier Services.

                                    So wait - how can I use Google Messages safely? Do I need to revoke all permissions from Google Play Services/Store/Framework ?

                                    I currently use gcam and Gboard with network permissions revoked but I've assumed that using Google Messages would require more permissions.

                                    I have never altered permission settings for Google Play Services/Store/Framework. Should I?

                                      spiral The minimum settings it allowed me to use it with was:

                                      Google Play Services: Phone/SMS (revoked after RCS activated) & Network
                                      Google Services Framewok: Network

                                      You may can get by without the 2 above. I use them for a couple of other apps.

                                      Google Messages:
                                      Contacts (probably not needed, but then you have to remember everyone's #.)
                                      Music/Audio (again probably not needed unless you view a video from a text and want audio)
                                      Network - RCS will not work without this on my & my wife's phones.
                                      Notifications - not needed
                                      Phone
                                      SMS

                                          2 months later

                                          Has anyone heard anything from Signal about dropping SMS?

                                          What's everyone's favorite alternative? Still trying to figure that out. I don't want to install Google.

                                          I use the default GrapheneOS Messaging app for SMS. It is set at the Default SMS app (Settings, then Apps, then Default apps, then SMS app).

                                          I have the Signal app installed for the Signal app features. Signal is not set up as the Default SMS app.

                                          a month later

                                          Just installed QKSMS... Thanks for the tip. NICE!! :)