- By Ashish Singh
- Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:37 AM (IST)
- Source:REUTERS
Apple has unofficially declared its intention to support the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard on iPhones, aligning with the widely used protocol for Android devices. This change, which is scheduled to go into effect in late 2024, intends to improve cross-platform message connectivity and establish new benchmarks for messaging experiences.
"Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association," an Apple representative told 9to5Mac. "Compared to SMS or MMS, RCS Universal Profile would provide a superior interoperability experience," he added.
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By adding RCS, Apple will enhance its current iMessage service, which it claims will always provide the safest and greatest texting experience for its customers. The decision was made in the face of pressure from authorities, including the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), as well as encouragement from competitors such as Google and Samsung.
What Changes Will RCS Communication Include?
If Apple adds RCS Communication to iPhones, the text communication between iOS and Android will become more seamless and may now be able to include encryption, read receipts, typing indicators, and high-resolution photos and videos. Do note that RCS messages will display in green, much like SMS messages do.
However, Apple makes it clear that iMessage is meant to take the place of SMS and MMS, not be opened up to other platforms. "When available, the RCS support will exist separately from iMessage."
Why Will Apple Have To Choose RCS?
In September, the European Commission opened an inquiry into iMessage to determine if it qualified as a "core platform service." Apple maintained that such a designation is not justified by iMessage's popularity in Europe.
Google and Samsung have both been pushing Apple to include RCS functionality. SVP of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google, Hiroshi Lockheimer, praised the decision, saying that "everyone should have secure and modern messaging without worrying what kind of phone they're texting to. I'm happy to see Apple participating in our continued RCS effort with the GSMA to improve texting for all."