RCS on iPhone is good news for all iphone users. Apple has now included RCS or Rich Communication Services support to its Messages app. This feature is a part of iOS 18’s second developer beta. Once this messaging option will be enabled on your iPhone, you can add top-quality videos and images, larger file attachments when you text to Android users. Also, you are capable of adding emojis, audio messages, smoother group chats while texting to Android users. Let’s go through this article to know more about this feature.
RCS On iPhone —Things You Need:
The very first thing you need to do is install the latest developer beta of iOS 18. However, if you installed it before June 24, 2024, you need to update your phone’s operating system to get the second developer beta.
You must not install the beta on your primary iPhone that you use for regular work and doing other important tasks. You can download the beta on an iPhone that you use mainly for testing. Ensure that you have backed up your phone before installing any beta.
Additionally, it is essential to be in the right career. Despite this new messaging protocol being enabled by the company at its end, the carriers have to activate it on the networks. Those who use AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon carriers are expected to get this RCS switch enabled.
What is RCS?
It is a messaging protocol which uses the web in order to allow users to send and receive top-quality pictures, files, etc. This protocol also enables you to start group chats, get ready receipts and view typing indicators. However, if you are an iPhone user, until now, you could only send SMS or MMS messages from the Messages app to those who did not use Apple devices.
But you can use iMessage to share media and use different features with other Apple device users. With this update, if you are an iPhone user, you can use the RCS update to chat with someone who uses RCS-supported devices.
How Do You Turn On and Off Rich Communication Services On Your iPhone?
You can enable this messaging option in the Settings app’s Messages section. These are toggled on by default. Currently, US people who have Rich Communication Services-supported carriers can get the benefits of this messaging. However, people with smaller carriers will not be able to use the feature yet.
If you face problems like missing text messages and you use the same mobile number from your previous phone, you have to turn off RCS chats on the old phone.
With Your Previous Device—
- First, you need to open Messages.
- Then, you have to click on more options. Now, your task is to tap on Settings. Then, you have to click on RCS chats.
Without Your Previous Device—
Before turning off RCS chats, Google is going to verify your mobile number. If your entered mobile number is registered with Google, a 6-digit verification code will appear on your phone.
- First, you have to enter the mobile number.
- Then, your job is to enter the 6-digit verification code.
Will RCS on iPhone Replace SMS Texting?
As this messaging option is available now on iPhones, it can replace SMS and MMS and can deliver a modern experience for basic messaging with Android users. After WWDC, Apple shared information about this new functionality on its iOS 18 preview page.
Now, rather than getting grainy small images or videos from your dear ones or friends who use Android smartphones, you will get to view top-quality media. Moreover, this feature will show read & delivered receipts. In this case, you need to know that the iOS Developer Beta 2 includes a new toggle for this Messaging option, which you can find by going to the Settings app on your iPhone. However, this feature was inactive and users in the United States using AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon can see this messaging option now.
RCS, which stands for Rich Communication Services, is capable of offering enhanced interoperability for cross-platform messaging and allows users to share high-resolution media and enjoy a better group chat experience to improve the features that Standard SMS offers.
Messaging Across iPhones And Android Devices Has Now Become Less Archaic:
Although the RCS messaging option has existed in the Android ecosystem for many years, Apple didn’t want to incorporate this into its services. Instead, the company has focused on iMessage. However, last year, Apple announced that the next iOS update is going to offer support for this new Messaging protocol.
As per people who enjoy the new messaging capability with the second iOS 18 developer update, iPhone owners could see typing indicators when they chat with someone who uses an Android smartphone. We can say that Messaging across iPhones and Android devices has now become less archaic with this update.
However, you cannot get rid of the blue-bubble-green-bubble issue just only by adopting this new messaging protocol. Only Apple’s customers will be able to enjoy the benefits of iMessage. It means that when you text someone who isn’t using an iphone, it will be a different experience. Texts with the users who use Android will still remain green.
However, there are a few features that will remain exclusive to the messages app of Google or iMessage. iMessage allows you to edit texts you have sent already or unsend the texts. But you could not do those things for messages which you sent through this new messaging protocol.
Drafting texts with the help of the Gemini AI model, which is one of the examples of Google Messages-exclusive features, may not transfer across devices either. However, it is unclear whether the messages that will be sent across iPhone and Android phones will remain end-to-end encrypted or not.
How Will Apple Adopting This New RCS Messaging Protocol Impact Cross-platform Messaging?
The new messaging protocol support to iPhone allows senders to have a better experience than when the iPhone users want to text each other or when two Android users message each other. At present, iPhone users need to text each other via iMessage. But if the iPhone users need to send anything to an Android user or an Android user text someone who uses an Apple device, they need to use SMS. This new update is expected to bridge the gap between the iPhone and Android phone interactions.
Apple adopting this messaging indicates that if you are an iPhone user who texts those who use Android devices, you are able to access more feature-rich messaging services. These are:
- Group chats
- Read receipts
- High-resolution media
- GIFs
- Stickers
- Suggested replies
If Apple has included support for this new messaging protocol for business messaging, it might indicate support for:
- Suggested reply buttons
- Read receipts
- Multiple-choice carousels
- Full enterprise branding with a Business Information page
- Verified senders
- Ability to share location, send quick-dial buttons, and save-to-wallet functions, etc.
iMessage Isn’t Going Anywhere:
- And It’s Definitely Not Coming To Android:
Although the company adopted the new messaging protocol, it says that iMessage will remain unchanged. Apple says that iPhone users will continue using iMessage as the primary messaging platform to communicate. The company says that it will be possible to still access SMS and MMS as fallback options, when needed.
- Apple’s Move Does Not Entail Opening Up iMessage To Other Platforms:
Apple has adopted this protocol as a separate initiative from iMessage. The iMessage’s availability on Android smartphones is not getting entailed by this development. Rather than that, Android’s counterpart is introduced onto the iPhone platform.
When Will This New RCS on iPhone Messaging Option Become Available?
Although the company has not shared the exact time of the launch of this protocol, it is expected to be available in the fall with the release of iOS 18. For now, RCS on iPhone can be limited to some US carriers. You are able to see the toggle if you have installed the iOS 18 developer beta and if you use such mobile carriers that support this messaging protocol and an updated network bundle for iOS 18.
The Bottom Line:
If this new messaging protocol is enabled on your iPhone, the message field will seem: Text Message + RCS. As an iPhone user, now you are capable of adding high-resolution photos or videos, audio or unusual emojis when you send messages to an Android user because of RCS on iPhone. Although a public beta of iOS 18 may get released in July, you can expect the final release to be available for all iPhone users in September. By then, carriers who are willing to be compatible with this protocol can activate it.
