Users have long waited for RCS support to be extended to the Messages app to make communication with non-iPhone users more seamless. Apple has catered to this much-awaited platform today at WWDC with iOS 18. The Rich Communication Service will now be the default communication protocol and come in place of standard SMS messaging.
RCS support is now available with iOS 18 and would be the main communication platform
Previously, we covered an issue regarding GIFs sent through iPhone to Android being distorted due to the gap in the communication platforms and Apple relying on SMS for sending over the messages, which compromised the quality and raised privacy concerns as it was not an end-to-end encryption.
With the new development, RCS is finally coming to iPhone devices as well and is said to be substituting SMS. The Rich Communication Service is going to drastically improve the experience of the Messages app by offering enhanced capabilities such as typing indicators, the ability to send longer texts, and read receipts, among many other advancements. So far, we do not have much information on RCS that would be extended to iPhones except for the RCS appearing in the text field and hinting at the system's adoption.
The RCS becoming the standard messaging protocol would help exchange high-quality images and videos without glitches and compressed versions. Android had long adopted this capability, but somehow, Apple was a little reluctant to make the transition. However, with the iOS 18, this major update is going to revamp cross-platform conversation and be equivalent to iMessage.
Many of the features that iPhone users love with iMessage could be available by now, extending the RCS support. Apple may have been moved to bring this to their devices after receiving a lot of backlash and pressure from the competition. In November, Apple hinted at the possibility of the Messages app supporting RCS coming to iOS 18. Whether due to pressure from Google and Samsung or the EU regulators, the company has lived up to the speculations and hints and finally moved on from the SMS platform.
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