AT&T is the latest US operator to hand over its messaging to Google

Messages by Google will soon be the default messaging app for all AT&T Android customers in the US, effectively killing attempts by operators to establish their own RCS platform.
US operators recently pulled the plug on the shambolic Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative, which was formed in partnership with long time RCS (Rich Communications Services) cheerleader the GSMA less than two years ago. It was intended to catalyse and operator-led alternative to OTT messaging services such as WhatsAp