Apple has added Rich Communication Services to the new version of its Rich Communication Services website in a new version of its just-released iOS 18, which could radically change messaging for many iPhone owners. This development, preceded by a similar move by Google and its partners, is expected to improve the messaging experience between iOS and Android users – it bypasses the limitations of ordinary texts.
Apple’s announcement on RCS support comes after years of the company’s disdain for the technology, and in large part thanks to Google’s patience in continually pushing Apple to improve cross-platform messaging systems . Traditionally, messages between iOS and Android devices were sent as SMS/MMS, which posed many problems: blurry photos and videos, truncated messages, lack of end-to-end encryption. These issues have caused a lot of inconvenience for consumers, creating fragmented and frustrating messaging experiences.
Recent reports from a user on X (formerly Twitter) confirm that RCS has already been enabled for some iPhone users. Several iOS 18 beta 2 beta testers with a SIM card from one of the major US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) are reporting that the technology is now available to everyone. To activate it, go to Settings → Apps → Messages.
However, this is not yet a large-scale deployment. So far, only the three largest US carriers have implemented the necessary changes/updates. Users of small carriers and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) will have to wait a bit.
Apple’s European Commission promised to integrate RCS at the Worldwide Developers Conference for a significant improvement in the iPhone’s texting capabilities. This means that Apple device owners will now benefit from high-definition media sharing, message reading notifications, and typing indicators when chatting with Android users, filling one of the many gaps between iOS and Android.
The iPhone 14 Pro (256 GB, Silver, Renewed Premium – Amazon.com) is one of the phones eligible for the iOS 18 betas.
