While you can already text emergency services like 911 over SMS, Google is announcing Thursday that RCS texting to 911 services is on its way starting this winter. When enabled, this will allow for enhanced features like read receipts and media messaging to emergency services.
Google is working with the RapidSOS emergency technology company on this rollout, which would be accessible from the Google Messages app on Android. Similar to personal RCS conversations, an RCS text with 911 would allow for sharing precise location along with sending photos and video of an active situation.
The rollout could vary, as a Google representative clarified that emergency call centers will have to adopt this functionality when it becomes available. Such adoption would be at no cost to emergency contact centers.
While Thursday’s announcement pertains just to Android phones that use Google Messages, since RCS is on its way to Apple’s iPhone this year, hopefully this will mean similar emergency contact features will make its way to Apple’s phones as well.