• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

RCS messaging in India: Apple is reportedly in talks with Google to introduce Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging for iPhone users in India. While an official timeline remains unconfirmed, reports suggest this rollout could happen later this year. If implemented, it would mark a significant shift in India’s messaging landscape, where traditional SMS and WhatsApp currently dominate.

Apple and Google’s Collaboration for RCS

According to The Economic Times, Apple is considering integrating Google’s backend RCS infrastructure into iMessage in India. This potential collaboration would allow iPhone users to communicate seamlessly with Android users using RCS, effectively bridging the messaging gap between the two ecosystems.

Currently the peer-to-peer messaging is available in only eight countries,  including the US, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, the UK, Belgium, and China. If India follows suit, Apple will likely work closely with Google and telecom providers to implement a similar approach.

How RCS Could Transform Messaging in India

RCS is an advanced messaging protocol that offers features like read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality media sharing, and group chats—capabilities similar to WhatsApp and iMessage. The introduction of RCS on iPhones in India could reduce reliance on third-party messaging apps while also enhancing business communication services.

In countries where Google services are restricted, such as China, local telecom operators have partnered with alternative vendors for RCS integration. In India, Google has already collaborated with Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio for RCS messaging, making it likely that Apple will leverage Google’s existing infrastructure.

Airtel’s Opposition to Google’s RCS Model

While Vodafone Idea and Jio have backed Google’s RCS implementation, Airtel has taken a different stance, refusing to onboard the service due to concerns over spam detection.

An Airtel executive, speaking anonymously, stated:

"Until Google allows Airtel to identify spam messages using its proprietary tool, RCS will not be onboarded. Since Google RCS is an OTT service, it bypasses Airtel’s intelligent spam filtering solution, similar to other OTT platforms."

Despite Airtel’s opposition, the Apple-Google partnership could still move forward, particularly in the area of business messaging (A2P), which is crucial for banks, e-commerce platforms, and enterprises that rely on SMS for customer communication.

What This Means for iPhone Users in India

For iPhone users, RCS messaging will work over mobile data or Wi-Fi, much like traditional SMS. This means they could soon enjoy richer messaging features—such as high-resolution media sharing and real-time typing indicators—without needing to rely on third-party apps.

If Apple and Google finalize this collaboration, iPhone users in India will have a more seamless messaging experience with their Android counterparts.