Google fucked this up by not making RCS a primary standard of Android. They should have implemented it and held their ground.
Adoption of anything other than the stock messaging apps on phones in the US is incredibly small. Apple has created a lock in with iMessage in the US and majority of people using iPhones will stay with iPhones because they (only) know that everything on their current iPhone will transfer seamlessly to a new one.
I would say most Android users just go with whatever carrier messaging app is installed. There are obviously people who know or use other apps/services but most people just go with what's easiest.
I don't understand the "no one in the US uses WhatsApp" crowd. Lived in SF and live in NYC now. I do all communication, with all friends, over WhatsApp. It's what everyone uses here.
Is it a central US thing to not use it?
Adoption of anything other than the stock messaging apps on phones in the US is incredibly small. Apple has created a lock in with iMessage in the US and majority of people using iPhones will stay with iPhones because they (only) know that everything on their current iPhone will transfer seamlessly to a new one.
I would say most Android users just go with whatever carrier messaging app is installed. There are obviously people who know or use other apps/services but most people just go with what's easiest.