Hi all,
Currently trying to DeGoogle my phone. I’m down to the last few apps. I want to replace the Phone and Messages apps.
I tried the Fossify versions from FDroid but was met with mixed problems. The first is the phone app. The Fossify version doesn’t have Spam call warnings like the Google version. The Fossify version also doesn’t have a voicemail button, not really a deal breaker but nice to have.
Second was a bigger problem though, the messages app. At first it seemed to work, but couldn’t send pictures after a short time. I usually send picture links anyway so not the worst but kind of annoying. After a while I would start getting delays in receiving standard SMS messages and finally wasn’t able to send any messages at all. I switched back to Google messages and everything worked flawlessly immediately. Also I turned off RCS in Google messages prior to switching.
If any of you could recommend a good SMS/Phone app i would appreciate it.
- QKSMS is unmaintained as are a lot of other SMS apps in the stores.
- I’ve got a Pixel 7 with the stock OS, but will be moving to LineageOS soon.
- I use Signal when I can, but I have clients that I can’t simply request they use a whole separate app just for me.
- Using T-Mobile
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This is going off-topic a little, but as you’ve got a Pixel why not install GrapheneOS rather than LineageOS? It’s de-googled by default and the built-in phone and SMS app seem fine!
I’ve got a few banking apps that require safety net (plus Pokemon go). I was under the impression that I need root ( and magisk, etc) to make that happen. Does graphene pass safety net, or is there another way to use those apps?
https://grapheneos.org/usage#banking-apps
tl;dr:
GrapheneOS passes the basicIntegrity check but isn’t certified by Google so it fails the ctsProfileMatch check.
ProfileMatch is usually a must
If you’re going to wipe your phone anyway, may as well start with GrapheneOS and test your banking apps before setting up everything else to see if it will work for you. You can always revert to stock and flash LineageOS instead if they don’t.
Most banking apps seem to work fine, but one of mine recently decided to implement the “Play Integrity API” which broke it on GrapheneOS, so I have to use the mobile site for that one. I just tried installing pogo, it complained at first but then seemed to load fine (though I didn’t try actually playing it).
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For SMS, Quik is the replacement I use for QKSMS, and it works the same, allowing blocking, back Up and all that good stuff.
For phone, I’ve heard good things of Clever dialer and Phone +, but I use GrapheneOS’s dialer, so I can’t say out of experience.
I’ve had great experience with QKSMS on GrapheneOS. Thanks for directing me to the fork, I’m switching to it right away.
Glad I could help.
Great, I didn’t know qksms had a fork so I’ll give this a shot. Thank you!
Does qksms use RCS?
Afaik, only google dialer and samsung support RCS. This is a limitation imposed by google.
E2EE is an extension of RCS that’s controlled by google, they don’t control the basic RCS standard though. I believe anyone can implement RCS in their messaging app and the GSMA will probably roll E2EE into the standard at some point. RCS is carrier dependent (all three major US carriers are supporting it) and you’ve got to have a data plan instead of good old SMS going over regular cell service.
Oh yeah, +1 for Quik SMS. It’s the best I’ve found
Regardless of all that, there are no other (open source) RCS clients on android because of google.
- Trying to find dialer/contacts myself
- You can try quik SMS
- Definitely suggest using GrapheneOS with their implementation of sandboxes GAPPS
About spam, theres a recently added app on fdroid called spamblock. Have you tried it?
I haven’t heard of that one, I’ll check it out tomorrow. Thank you!
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