Apple’s Messages app will be getting RCS texting support later this year as part of iOS 18, promising to add more modern features to conversations between iPhones and Android phones. The feature was briefly mentioned during WWDC 2024 but is expected to be a significant improvement for better photo sharing and group chats across platforms. A screenshot from the iOS 18 preview page shows what an RCS conversation could look like, featuring higher quality photos, audio messages, and a “Delivered” status message not available in SMS or MMS.
RCS is a more advanced texting standard that has been proposed as a replacement for SMS and MMS, offering features like typing indicators, group chats, and improved media sharing. While Google’s Messages app for Android has already adopted RCS, Apple’s implementation may differ in terms of features. Apple has indicated that it will work with GSMA to enhance encryption standards within RCS rather than adopting Google’s approach. iMessage will continue to be supported alongside RCS, suggesting that some features will remain unique to each messaging platform.
Questions remain about how well Apple’s Messages app will support RCS, especially in areas like group chats and message translations from Android phones. Details about these functionalities may be revealed closer to the launch of Apple’s next iPhone later this year. Despite this uncertainty, the addition of RCS support in iOS 18 signifies Apple’s commitment to providing modern messaging features to users across different platforms. It remains to be seen how seamless the integration of RCS will be within Apple’s ecosystem and how it will enhance communication between iPhone and Android users.
The inclusion of RCS support in Apple’s Messages app marks a significant shift in the messaging landscape, allowing for more feature-rich interactions between iPhone and Android users. The move towards a more modern texting standard like RCS is in line with industry trends and the demand for enhanced communication capabilities. While the specifics of Apple’s RCS implementation are still unclear, its integration into iOS 18 signals a step towards a more inclusive messaging experience for users across different devices.
Overall, the introduction of RCS support in Apple’s Messages app represents a positive development for users seeking more advanced messaging features and improved interoperability between iOS and Android devices. As technology continues to evolve, the adoption of standards like RCS can help bridge the gap between different platforms and provide a more seamless communication experience for all users. With further details about Apple’s RCS support expected to be revealed in the coming months, it will be interesting to see how this new feature enhances the messaging capabilities of iPhones and facilitates better communication across different devices.
