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

For the reason that daybreak of smartphones, there’s been a battle between messaging apps. Regardless of many makes an attempt on Google’s half, there has by no means been a real messaging competitor to Apple iMessage.

Google’s been pushing one other common normal: RCS. The standoff between the tech giants has been fairly public, with Google goading Apple on many events, and Apple refusing to assist 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 cellular provider within the US now assist RCS messaging. However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have, and which units is it obtainable on?

What’s RCS?

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

Wealthy communication providers (RCS) is a protocol between cellular operators and telephones. The general intention of RCS is to switch SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all acquainted with as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging may be very very like WhatsApp, the place reside chat can happen, together with multimedia assist, with all the pieces dealt with by way of the info community.

The largest benefit RCS Messaging has over SMS — and the rationale it was applied within the first place — is that it improves on the SMS/MMS messaging expertise, a lot in the identical method that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages can carry extra info, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution photographs, movies, and audio messages to at least one one other. Well-liked options like typing indicators and skim receipts are additionally a part of RCS messaging.

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Customers can perform video calls with each other straight inside the messaging app, fairly than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are doable, and RCS messages additionally get rid of the 160-character restrict at present present in SMS messages. Companies can even 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?

Brief reply: Sure, however not by default

Google Messages makes use of end-to-end encryption to make sure a dialog stays non-public between the sender and recipient. Your conversations are encrypted with a key that solely both participant can entry. You may confirm when you’re at present 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 exhibits a lock icon together with the members’ names, or search for the lock icon on the ship button.

If you wish to verify your dialog is non-public, you may observe the directions Google lays out here to verify verification codes within the Messages app with particular contacts.

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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 will not be 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 assist RCS?

RCS is nearly common

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

Should you ship an RCS message to somebody whose cellphone or cellular community would not assist it, it will likely be despatched as a daily textual content message.

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The textual content messaging panorama has been heating up currently, and the Wealthy Communication Companies (RCS) protocol is taking part in a central function. RCS is a significant improve over the old-school Brief Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) requirements which have dominated the North American texting scene for a few years now. RCS is a contemporary substitute that brings with it options first pioneered — and now commonplace — on internet-based direct messaging platforms. These perks embody learn receipts, typing indicators, higher group chat assist, larger high quality picture and video transfers, and, in some circumstances, encryption. Whereas many of the world has moved on from texting and has as a substitute embraced WhatsApp, Fb Messenger, Viber, and different competing providers, the identical cannot be stated for us right here within the north-western hemisphere. In the US and Canada specifically, Apple’s iMessage enjoys an enormous set up base alongside the continued utilization of conventional SMS textual content messaging. Goo

Does the iPhone assist RCS messaging?

RCS has lastly made it to the iPhone in 2024

When Apple announced its pivot, it dedicated to utilizing the GSMA Common Profile for RCS. The RCS assist that arrived with iOS 18 in September 2024 displays that. Cross-platform messaging between Android and iOS units completely works higher than earlier than and is enriched with issues like audio messages and skim receipts, however it’s nonetheless not good. You will nonetheless get a extra feature-complete expertise utilizing Google’s model of RCS in Google Messages or sticking with iMessage.

Inexperienced bubbles have caught round, and Apple helps issues like typing indicators, high-resolution photographs and movies, voice messages, group chats, and file transfers. Notably lacking is any sort of end-to-end encryption, although, which could require a change to a unique model of the GSMA Common Profile than Apple is at present utilizing. The corporate has shared no plans as to when which may change.

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Involved customers and Google have demanded Apple assist RCS for years. Google has taunted Apple, with execs making statements about how RCS might make all units work higher collectively and extra securely. The corporate’s even gone to city a number of occasions 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 cellphone (which defaults to SMS/MMS as a result of Apple would not but assist RCS) inexperienced, to distinguish them from blue messages despatched by different individuals on iMessage. RCS assist makes issues much more equal now, however it’s not clear it will change something culturally.

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 because of the Digital Markets Act, and that 5G telephones are reportedly required to support RCS in China.

How can I see if I’ve RCS assist on my cellphone?

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

Firstly, when you’re an Android consumer, it is best to use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will assist it, Google’s method means you want to 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 you probably have assist or not, and if it is enabled.

Once you sign up to a brand new cellphone and open Google Messages for the primary time, you may be requested if you wish to activate RCS Messaging. Should you aren’t prompted, you may flip it on by way of the directions above. In the identical menu, you may additionally discover different choices, corresponding to controlling typing indicators and skim receipts. Be aware 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.

Should you’re an iPhone consumer, Apple has designed the Messages app for iOS 18 to default to RCS in case your provider helps it, however you can even make certain RCS messaging is enabled within the Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll all the way down to the Apps part and faucet it.
3. Faucet on Messages.
4. Faucet on RCS Messaging below the Textual content Messaging part.
5. Be sure that RCS Messaging is toggled on.

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