What’s RCS and the way is it totally different than SMS or iMessage?

For a few years there was a working battle between messaging providers. Regardless of many makes an attempt on Google’s half, there has by no means been a real messaging competitor to Apple’s iMessage.

Google has been pushing one other common normal: RCS. The standoff between the tech giants has been somewhat public, with Google goading Apple on many events, and Apple refusing to help RCS for a few years. Then, on November 16, 2023, Apple pivoted, saying it would support RCS in 2024. A second of unity is coming in cross-device messaging, it appears.

Since Verizon embraced Google’s RCS protocol in February 2024, all Android telephones and each main cell service within the US now help RCS messaging. However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have, and which units is it accessible on?

What’s RCS?

The way forward for textual content messaging is right here… virtually.

Wealthy communication providers (RCS) is a protocol between cell operators and telephones. The general goal of RCS is to exchange SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all aware of as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging could be very very like WhatsApp, the place stay chat can happen, together with multimedia help, with every thing dealt with by way of the information community.

The most important benefit RCS Messaging has over SMS — and the explanation it was carried out within the first place — is that it improves on the SMS/MMS messaging expertise, a lot in the identical approach that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages can carry extra info, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution pictures, movies, and audio messages to 1 one other. Widespread options like typing indicators and browse receipts are additionally a part of RCS messaging.

Customers can perform video calls with each other straight throughout the messaging app, somewhat than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are attainable, and RCS messages additionally get rid of the 160-character restrict presently present in SMS messages. Companies also can use RCS Messaging to ship issues like boarding passes for airways, bundle supply notifications, and bank card fraud alerts. RCS is legitimately higher for everybody.

Is RCS encrypted and safe?

Quick reply: Sure, however not by default

Google Messages makes use of end-to-end encryption to make sure a dialog stays personal between the sender and recipient. Your conversations are encrypted with a key that solely both participant can entry. You’ll be able to confirm should you’re presently having an encrypted dialog by searching for the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps on your messages, search for a banner within the thread that reveals a lock icon together with the contributors’ names, or search for the lock icon on the ship button.

If you wish to affirm your dialog is personal, you possibly can comply with the directions Google lays out here to substantiate verification codes within the Messages app with particular contacts.

As a result of an growing majority of Android telephones include Google Messages pre-installed or use it as their default messaging app, most RCS chats needs to be end-to-end encrypted, however encryption just isn’t a part of the protocol by default. In comments to the press when Apple introduced it was adopting RCS, constructing end-to-end encryption into the bottom protocol was one of many issues the corporate hoped to do.

Which telephones and carriers help RCS?

RCS is sort of common

Within the US, the key US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, Dash and T-Cellular — have agreed on a cross-carrier resolution for RCS in a program referred to as CCMI — Cross-Service Messaging Initiative — and we’re now able the place RCS is globally accessible and interoperable, besides Russia. At Google I/O 2023, Google stated there have been over 800 million month-to-month RCS customers.

For those who ship an RCS message to somebody whose telephone or cell community does not help it, will probably be despatched as a daily textual content message.

Does the iPhone help RCS messaging?

RCS is lastly coming to the iPhone in 2024

Apple has announced that it is going to work to help the GSMA Common Profile for RCS on the iPhone in late 2024 as a part of its iOS 18 update. Apple’s announcement that it’s going to help RCS signifies that Google Messages and Apple iMessage may work collectively, so it is attainable by the tip of the 12 months, iPhone and Android customers may have cross-platform wealthy messaging. Apple did not go into element at WWDC 2024 as to how RCS help will work or what it should seem like, however due to some customers’ experimentation with the developer beta, we do have a way of what options shall be included. That features

The inexperienced bubbles shall be sticking round, however Apple plans on supporting typing indicators, high-resolution pictures and movies, voice messages, group chats, and file transfers on the very least. Notably lacking is any form of end-to-end encryption, although, which could require a change to a unique model of the GSMA Common Profile than Apple is presently utilizing.

Involved customers and Google have demanded Apple help RCS for years. Google has taunted Apple, with execs making statements about how RCS may make all units work higher collectively and extra securely. The corporate’s even gone to city a number of instances in movies and on-line campaigns.

The issue — particularly for customers within the US — is that iMessage is dominant and there is a documented stigma amongst customers towards anybody messaging who is not utilizing iMessage. Apple even makes messages despatched from an Android telephone (which defaults to SMS/MMS as a result of Apple does not but help RCS) inexperienced, to distinguish them from blue messages despatched by different folks on iMessage. That is not essentially going to return to an finish when Apple helps RCS, however messaging Android customers ought to at the very least turn into related from a practical perspective.

In the end, Apple’s reasons for adopting RCS have much less to do with Google’s taunts, and extra the elevated stress it is receiving from the EU as a result of Digital Markets Act, and that 5G telephones are reportedly required to support RCS in China.

How can I see if I’ve RCS help on my telephone?

It needs to be turned on by default, however you are able to do it manually

Firstly, should you’re an Android person, you need to use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will help it, Google’s strategy means it’s essential use its personal app).

1. Open the app and faucet the menu within the high right-hand nook.
2. Choose Messages settings.
3. Choose RCS Chats.
4. RCS Chats will let you know when you have help or not, and if it is enabled.

Whenever you sign up to a brand new telephone and open Google Messages for the primary time, you may be requested if you wish to activate RCS Messaging. For those who aren’t prompted, you possibly can flip it on by way of the directions above. In the identical menu, you may additionally discover different choices, comparable to controlling typing indicators and browse receipts. Observe that you just want wi-fi or mobile knowledge to ship RCS messages, so there’s additionally the choice to ship an SMS as a substitute if RCS messages cannot be despatched.

For those who’re an iPhone person, the present reply is you do not have entry to RCS messaging, and you may want to attend till Apple formally provides help — both in a public beta or when iOS 18 is formally accessible later this 12 months.

Associated

What Apple’s RCS support means for your group chats

RCS help is formally coming to iPhones this fall, however that does not imply you may get the identical expertise on iOS that you’ll on Android.