Apple Confirms RCS Support With iOS 18

• Apple has confirmed that it will offer RCS support for the iPhone’s messaging app with the upcoming launch of iOS 18.
• RCS support will enable features such as high-resolution videos and images, typing indicators, and read receipts, improving Android-to-Apple interactions.

Apple has confirmed that its messaging app will support Rich Communication Services (RCS) with the upcoming launch of iOS 18. RCS will replace SMS as the default protocol for messaging between Apple and Android devices. The move has come after many years of pressure campaigns by Google and Samsung and scrutiny of the iPhone maker in the EU, with RCS being the standard Android messaging protocol.

Currently, messaging between iOS and Android devices uses SMS, which means that images and videos are transmitted in lower quality. Furthermore, messages have to be shorter and are not provided with end-to-end encryption as opposed to communications between Apple devices. The messages between both platforms are also visually different, displayed in a green bubble instead of blue.

See More: Adobe Faces Backlash Over Spyware-Like Terms of Service Update

While Apple has not provided details about its move, the inclusion of RCS support is expected to allow features such as read receipts, typing indicators, higher-quality media, and longer messages in communications between both platforms. Furthermore, while Apple announced its intentions to enable RCS in late 2023, the official announcement is also expected to appease EU regulators.

The iOS upgrade is expected to be available to iPhone users this fall. While the RCS upgrade solves most pain points of SMS, iPhone-to-iPhone communications are still expected to provide a better experience owing to greater integration with the Apple ecosystem, better encryption, and exclusive features such as visual effects for texts.

LATEST NEWS STORIES

• New WatchGuard Threat Lab Report Reveals Critical Malware Trends
• Probe Launched: Alleged LAUSD Data Theft Can Expose Student to Fraud
• Cybersecurity Study Uncovers Key Malware Attack Trends
• Lunar Lake: Intel Unveils New AI-Enhanced Processor for Mobile PCs