Apple has announced intentions to include RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging capability on iPhones, harmonizing with the widely used format on most Android devices. According to a statement issued to 9to5Mac, the tech giant disclosed that this upgrade will be implemented in the latter part of 2024.
Apple emphasized the potential for enhanced interoperability in cross-platform messaging through RCS. A spokesperson for the company shared insights, stating, “Later next year, we will be incorporating support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard currently endorsed by the GSM Association. We anticipate that RCS Universal Profile will deliver an improved interoperability experience compared to SMS or MMS.”
The RCS functionality is meant to supplement iMessage, which Apple claims will continue to provide its consumers with the best and most secure texting experience. Apple’s strategic shift is in response to legislative concerns, such as the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), as well as competition from large competitors such as Google and Samsung. RCS is known for introducing iMessage-like functionalities to cross-platform text communication.
The implementation of RCS on iPhones has the potential to bring advanced functions such as encryption, read receipts, typing indicators, and the seamless sharing of high-resolution photos and videos in text messages sent between iPhones and Android smartphones. Apple has also confirmed that users will be able to exchange locations in text threads, and RCS messages, like SMS messages, will be identified by a green color.
RCS is intended to replace SMS and MMS, coexisting with iMessage wherever it is available
The action by Apple comes after the European Commission launched an investigation into iMessage in September, looking into whether it should be designated as a “core platform service.” Apple claims that iMessage is not widely used in Europe, calling into question the validity of key regulatory rules. Google and Samsung, both supporters of RCS, have lobbied Apple to include support for this messaging standard.
Google’s SVP of platforms and ecosystems, Hiroshi Lockheimer, expressed delight with Apple’s decision, saying, “Everybody should have secure and modern messaging without worrying about what kind of phone they’re texting to. So glad to see Apple joining our ongoing work with the GSMA on RCS to make texting better for all.”