Text messages can be 'canceled within 5 minutes'... Also possible to show empathy icons

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The three major mobile carriers are introducing new messaging service features that allow customers to cancel already sent text messages and express empathy through emoticons, tailored to customers' preferences.

SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus announced on the 10th that they will launch a new feature called 'Cancel Message Sending' for their messaging service (RCS) 'Chat+ (Chat Plus)'.

Chat Plus is a next-generation mobile communication service evolved from the traditional smartphone text messaging services (SMS·MMS), pre-installed as an application on smartphones. Through Chat Plus, customers can use features such as ▲group chats with up to 100 people ▲large file transfers up to 300MB ▲gift sending ▲money transfers ▲read receipts without installing any additional software.

The newly added 'Cancel Message Sending' feature can be used within 5 minutes of sending a message, regardless of whether the recipient has read it. Pressing the message for 2 seconds brings up the cancel button. When canceled, the recipient sees the phrase "This message has been canceled." Currently, the service is available on Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S21 series, and the three carriers plan to gradually expand compatible devices.

Additionally, Chat Plus allows sending and receiving messages with files such as photos and videos under 5MB without deducting separate data. Since February, it has also provided 'Empathy' and 'Reply' features to help customers conveniently express their feelings. The Empathy feature lets users easily and enjoyably express emotions on others' messages using emoticons. The Reply feature allows users to comment on past messages to continue conversations comfortably. Any Samsung smartphone user running Android 11 can use these features.

As of the end of April, Chat Plus has a combined subscriber base of 27.49 million across the three carriers, and the service is available on 69 smartphone models (54 from Samsung Electronics, 15 from LG Electronics).