Apple, in a move long-awaited by Android users and tech enthusiasts alike, has officially announced support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging in its upcoming iOS 18 update. This development marks a significant shift for Apple, as it finally embraces the modern messaging standard that has been widely adopted by Android users for years.
The news was first revealed in Apple’s preview of iOS 18, where the company highlighted RCS support as one of the new features coming to the Messages app. According to Apple, RCS will enable “richer media and more reliable group messaging compared to SMS and MMS” when messaging contacts who do not have an Apple device.
This announcement is a major win for consumers, as it means that iPhone users will finally be able to enjoy the benefits of RCS, such as high-quality image and video sharing, read receipts, typing indicators, and larger group chats, when communicating with Android users.
However, the initial beta version of iOS 18, released earlier this month, did not include all of the expected RCS features. Notably, read receipts and reactions to messages were missing, leaving some users disappointed.
But with the release of iOS 18 beta 2 on Monday, June 24th, RCS messaging has been activated for some users in the US, specifically those on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. This has rekindled hope that Apple is indeed committed to rolling out full RCS support in the final version of iOS 18.
The rollout of RCS on iOS is carrier-dependent, meaning that not all users will have access to it immediately. However, users can check if their carrier has enabled RCS support by going to the Messages section in the Settings app and looking for an RCS toggle. If it’s not there, rebooting the iPhone might help.
Apple’s adoption of RCS is a significant step towards improving cross-platform messaging interoperability. While Android users will still appear in green bubbles in iMessage, the quality of media sharing and overall messaging experience is expected to significantly improve.
This move by Apple comes after years of pressure from Google and other industry players to adopt RCS. With Apple finally on board, RCS is poised to become the new standard for messaging, benefiting users across both iOS and Android platforms.
While the full extent of Apple’s RCS implementation remains to be seen, this initial rollout is a promising sign that the company is serious about improving the messaging experience for all users.
