Signal alternative for SMS now they want to drop its support

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

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.

Orphee , Well stated.

ISTM your situation is common for MOST users; certainly for me. SMS is simply the standard; insecure protocol at this time, but not yet replaced for the masses.

IMHO stick with the GOS messenger for routine txts - consider them postcards that are readily readable in transit.

1. You know who wrote/maintains it - trustworthy, skilled and not spyware.

2. It is part of the hardened OS - using hardened tools and techniques. A lot of cell phones have been hacked via SMS - I bet GOS messenger is NOT one of them, but some third party messenger could be.

I too am looking for an sms app.

I'm willing to sacrifice and live with the old look and colors of the default app, but what is a major issue for me is the fact that you can't delete multiple messages at once. You can either delete the whole conversation , or a single message. Its clunky and slow. It's a MAJOR pain in my ass, cause I constant delete useless messages and only keep important ones. The default app is such a pain.

But at the same time, the "robustness" and "reliability" of the app is more important to me than anything else. Having someone send you an important sms and then it disappearing or getting corrupted by the app is not acceptable for me.

In my opinion "oldness" is not a problem, as many apps really don't need updates. What matters is reliable functioning and good workflow.

So I've been looking at QKsms and Simple SMS as alternatives, however I am afraid about their reliability. There is almost 400 open issues on both of them on github, with reports of images being messed up and messages disappearing, group messages being messed up. these are elements that have to work correctly for me because others may use them with me. Using an app that doesn't know how to handle the sms protocol wholly and correctly is IMO fundamentally problematic. At least the default app can be trusted in this sense.

From you guys' experience, are they reliable enough to use do you think?

Do you guys really think google messages could be used "safely"? Normally I wouldn't ever even remotely risk going near any of their software that would have access to such sensitive data as my sms and phone calls.

At least with google messages or signal you know you are dealing with a "reliable" app.

Anyway I'm in desperate need of a solution and just don't know what to do. I need a different app than the default.

I'm hoping you guys have a suggestion, or can tell me whether QKsms or SimpleSMS are good enough to use?

I just need a reliable app that can do just a little more than the default app.

thompson "GOS Messenger" is just an AOSP messaging app. You can look for FOSS messaging apps on F-Droid, but if you don't care about the app being FOSS, use Google Messages because it supports RCS (which allows for E2EE messaging) and the app is modern too.