Rich Communication Services (RCS) was launched as a successor to conventional SMS (Quick Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), promising a contemporary, feature-rich messaging expertise that may rival well-liked apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
Apple resisted leaping on the RCS bandwagon for the longest time, however after a whole lot of strain from trade friends and customers, RCS messaging is now a part of the brand new iOS 18 replace. The change marks a big shift in how cross-platform communication is dealt with on Apple gadgets. On this article, we’ll dive into RCS messaging, its advantages, and the way iPhone customers can allow and use it with the iOS 18 replace.
QUICK ANSWER
You possibly can allow RCS messaging on iPhones running iOS 18 or later. As soon as you put in iOS 18 in your telephone, you will must allow RCS in your messaging settings. You may additionally should test in case your service helps the RCS protocol or not.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
What’s RCS Messaging?
RCS was designed to boost SMS and MMS and provide a extra interactive messaging expertise. It was first developed by the International System for Cell Communications (GSMA) and is now supported by a number of carriers and telephone producers, making it a extra succesful various to SMS. With RCS help now obtainable on iOS 18, iPhone customers can seamlessly work together with Android customers utilizing the superior messaging options listed beneath:
- Learn receipts: Like iMessage on iPhone and WhatsApp, RCS messaging helps learn receipts, so you realize when your messages have been learn.
- Excessive-quality media sharing: RCS will enable iPhone customers to share photos, movies, and audio clips in excessive decision with Android customers, versus the compressed variations despatched over SMS/MMS.
- Typing indicators: iPhone and Android customers speaking to one another can now see when somebody is typing a response.
- Group chats: Customers can now simply create group chats with enhanced capabilities, equivalent to including or eradicating contributors with out disrupting the message thread.
- Safety: Whereas some RCS providers help end-to-end encryption, this isn’t common throughout all suppliers. As of now, RCS messages between iOS and Android do not support end-to-end encryption (E2EE), however that might change sooner or later.
The right way to Allow RCS on iPhone with iOS 18
Apple has traditionally prioritized its proprietary iMessage platform. Nevertheless, because of fixed nagging from Google, nudges from numerous regulatory authorities, and requests from iPhone in addition to Android customers, the corporate lastly caved and determined to undertake RCS. With iOS 18, Apple has put an finish to the talk as soon as and for all. That mentioned, iPhone customers will nonetheless see green bubbles once they obtain an RCS message from Android customers. Right here’s a step-by-step information on methods to allow RCS in your iPhone after updating to iOS 18:
- Guarantee Your Service Helps RCS: Earlier than enabling RCS in your iPhone, it’s important to check that your mobile carrier supports the RCS protocol. Many carriers within the US and worldwide now help RCS, however the rollout can fluctuate relying on the area and community. You possibly can head to Settings > Basic >About > Service/Community Supplier in your iPhone to test for RCS help. While you faucet the Service/Community Supplier, the IMS standing will change to Voice, SMS & RCS. In case your service doesn’t have RCS help, you’ll solely see Voice $ SMS because the IMS standing.
- Replace to iOS 18: To entry RCS messaging, your iPhone ought to be working iOS 18 or later. You possibly can test for software program updates and obtain iOS 18 by heading to Basic > Software program Replace.
- Allow RCS Messaging: As soon as iOS 18 is put in, you’ll must allow RCS in your messaging settings. Head to Settings > Apps > Messages. Below Textual content Messaging, you’ll see a toggle for RCS Messaging. Activate this toggle.
iMessage vs RCS: Key variations
Whereas RCS opens up an entire new world of communication between iPhone and Android customers, there are nonetheless some key variations between iMessage and RCS. You would possibly wish to use one or the opposite primarily based on these variations.
Platform: iMessage is unique to Apple gadgets, whereas RCS is a cross-platform messaging protocol.
Encryption: iMessage messages are end-to-end encrypted, which suggests they’re safe towards a 3rd occasion studying them whereas they’re despatched between gadgets. Nevertheless, RCS messages between Android and iOS customers will not be but protected by the identical encryption.
Supply mechanism: iMessage is an internet-based service that delivers your messages through Apple’s servers. RCS, alternatively, is a carrier-based service. Apple warns that consumer identifiers are exchanged on your service and their companions to authenticate your machine and supply a connection for RCS messaging. “These identifiers might embrace however will not be restricted to your IMEI, IMSI, present IP handle, and telephone quantity. Your present IP handle may also be shared with different RCS customers,” the corporate notes.
