Google has announced that it is testing end-to-end encrypted RCS (Rich Communication Services) group chats, which will be made available to some open beta users in the coming weeks.

According to IANS, one-on-one texts sent via Google Messages will be encrypted, making them private and secure, and visible only to the sender and recipient.

“RCS not only makes texting more secure; it also improves the experience,” Google wrote in a blog post.

“SMS texting lacks a lot of what smartphones are capable of doing, but RCS means you can send and receive high-quality photos and videos, see real-time typing indicators and read receipts, name group conversations, add or remove contacts from group chats, and text over Wi-Fiathis list goes on,” it added.

Google has been urging manufacturers and carriers to use RCS, a boosted version of SMS with features such as typing indicators, delivery, and read receipts.

It has also started campaigns to persuade Apple to use this standard in its own Messages app.