Apple to Start Supporting RCS by Fall 2024

Google hinted that its rival, Apple, is set to provide support for Rich Communication Media (RCS) on iPhones starting this Fall. This indicates that the iPhone maker will likely extend RCS support in the upcoming iOS 18 update.

9to5Google initially spotted the announcement on the landing page of the new Google Messages app, where Google revealed the upcoming update. “Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone,” the page reads.

RCS allows users to send media files, see live-typing indicators, get read receipts, and enjoy end-to-end encryption for their messages. When Apple finally brings RCS to iPhones, it will not only include these features, but it’ll also allow the same encryption for messages between Android and iPhone users.

Currently, messages between iPhones go through Apple’s iMessage service, which also offers end-to-end encryption. iMessage allows users to send media digital files, including stickers and emojis. However, messages between Android and iOS do not support these features, as they rely on the old SMS and MMS services. These services are not encrypted, and messages between Android and iPhones often arrive distorted.

Apple confirmed that it was working on adding RCS support in 2024, according to USA Today. The company didn’t specify the date, but said that messages between Android and iPhones will still be displayed in green bubbles and those between iPhones in blue bubbles. The only change is the way iPhone users will text Android users.

“We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users,” Apple says.

However, The U.S. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued Apple for “undermining apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers.” The DOJ didn’t explicitly mention the “green-blue bubble” messaging divide created by Apple, but the details it provided point to it as one of the reasons for the lawsuit.

“The Justice Department, joined by 16 other state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act,” the press release on the DOJ website reads.

Apple may end up updating more than just the RCS support on iPhones in upcoming iOS updates and the iPhone 16. But that might also depend on the outcome of the case the DOJ has against it.