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Google Messages pushed the carrier adoption of RCS over their sub par proprietary messaging that locked users to their service.

Breif history:

Google did not "force" RCS (Rich Communication Services) on carriers in a legal or regulatory sense, but they did use a "bypass" strategy to effectively make carrier refusal irrelevant for Android users.
Initially, Google waited for carriers to adopt the RCS Universal Profile, but when adoption stalled, they took several aggressive steps to ensure the service reached users:

1. The "Google Guest" Bypass
In 2019, after years of carrier delays, Google began rolling out RCS directly to users via the Google Messages app. If a carrier didn't support RCS, Google provided the backend infrastructure (through its Jibe platform) themselves, bypassing the carrier's network for the rich features. This meant users could get "Chat features" (typing indicators, high-res photos) as long as they used Google's app, regardless of their carrier's stance.

2. Strategic Partnerships
Instead of forcing carriers, Google made it easier for them to "join" rather than "build." Major US carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon eventually scrapped their own failed RCS projects and partnered with Google to use Jibe as their official backend.

3. Making Google Messages the Default
Google worked with manufacturers like Samsung to make Google Messages the default messaging app on new devices. This centralized the user base, making it less profitable for carriers to maintain separate, incompatible messaging standards.

Current Status: Handing Control Back
As of late 2025 and 2026, reports indicate Google has started removing the "Google Guest" bypass in many regions. Because most major carriers now officially support RCS (partly to ensure compatibility with Apple's recent adoption of the standard), Google is handing the responsibility for RCS back to the carriers. This has caused issues for some users on smaller carriers that never officially signed on.