One fun fact I have heard is that the Android Messages app did not receive updates through the play store because carriers wanted to retain control. If you're

One fun fact I have heard is that the Android Messages app did not receive updates through the play store because carriers wanted to retain control. If you're in the US, you could switch to Project Fi. I think the crypto thing is less about carriers own opinions and more about the regulation that carrier provided services face. Hopefully it will at least have an encrypted OTT mode the same way that Allo does. Let's also not forget how carriers have hampered Android updates.