With the intention of bringing iPhones into line with the majority of Android devices, Apple has revealed that it intends to incorporate support for the RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging standard. According to a statement from an Apple representative that 9to5Mac obtained, RCS (Rich Communication Services) compatibility for the iPhone will start rolling out next year. The assertion is that, subsequent to the existing GSM Association standard, Apple plans to incorporate support for RCS Universal Profile. It was also reported that the corporation claimed that the new technology would be more compatible than SMS or MMS and that it would function in tandem with iMessage.
Authorities and rivals like Samsung and Google are putting pressure on Apple to make this decision. It also coincides with the growing maturity of RCS as a platform. Several iMessage-style features, including read receipts and typing indications, will be added to communications between iPhone and Android users with the RCS functionality, which will be available as a software update for iPhone models. The updated protocol will also allow users to send and receive high-resolution images and movies between Android and iPhone devices. Apple promises to collaborate with GSMA members to find ways to enhance the RCS protocols even further.
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Apple stated that it will not add any kind of proprietary end-to-end encryption to RCS. Its main objective is to make the RCS standard better. Also, Apple has confirmed that users will be able to exchange locations within a text thread. The firm also disclosed the fact that iMessage would not be available on Android-based systems. RCS operates via mobile data and Wi-Fi, in contrast to SMS. But Apple stated again that iMessage employs Advanced Data Protection, which provides a more sophisticated end-to-end encryption than RCS.
Additionally, Apple stated that green bubbles will stand in for RCS communications, while blue bubbles will continue to represent iMessages. On the other hand, Samsung offers RCS functionality for all of its current phone models via the Samsung Messages and Google Messages applications.
In reference to Apple’s move, Google opened up, Everyone deserves to communicate with each other in ways that are modern and secure, no matter what phone they have. That’s why we have worked closely with the mobile industry to accelerate the adoption of RCS, and we’re happy to see Apple take their first step today by coming on board to embrace RCS. We welcome Apple’s participation in our ongoing work with GSMA to evolve RCS and make messaging more equitable and secure, and we look forward to working with them to implement this on iOS in a way that works well for everyone.”
