What’s RCS and the way is it totally 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 customary: RCS. The standoff between the tech giants has been quite public, with Google goading Apple on many events, and Apple refusing to help 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 cell provider within the US now help 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 cell operators and telephones. The general goal of RCS is to interchange SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all accustomed to as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging may be very very similar to WhatsApp, the place reside chat can happen, together with multimedia help, with all the things dealt with through the info community.

The most important 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 means that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages can carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution images, movies, and audio messages to at least one one other. In style options like typing indicators and browse receipts are additionally a part of RCS messaging.

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Customers can perform video calls with each other immediately throughout the messaging app, quite than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are potential, and RCS messages additionally put off the 160-character restrict presently present in SMS messages. Companies may use RCS Messaging to ship issues like boarding passes for airways, package deal 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 personal between the sender and recipient. Your conversations are encrypted with a key that solely both participant can entry. You possibly can confirm in the event you’re presently having an encrypted dialog by in search of the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps to your messages, search for a banner within the thread that reveals a lock icon together with the contributors’ names, or search for the lock icon on the ship button.

If you wish to verify your dialog is personal, you may comply with 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 rising 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 help RCS?

RCS is nearly common

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

Should you ship an RCS message to somebody whose telephone or cell community does not help it, will probably be despatched as an everyday textual content message.

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The textual content messaging panorama has been heating up currently, and the Wealthy Communication Providers (RCS) protocol is enjoying 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 alternative that brings with it options first pioneered — and now commonplace — on internet-based direct messaging platforms. These perks embrace learn receipts, typing indicators, higher group chat help, greater high quality picture and video transfers, and, in some instances, encryption. Whereas a lot of the world has moved on from texting and has as an alternative embraced WhatsApp, Fb Messenger, Viber, and different competing providers, the identical cannot be mentioned for us right here within the north-western hemisphere. In the USA and Canada specifically, Apple’s iMessage enjoys a large set up base alongside the continued utilization of conventional SMS textual content messaging. Goo

Does the iPhone help 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 help 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 browse receipts, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not good. You may 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 photos and movies, voice messages, group chats, and file transfers. Notably lacking is any type of end-to-end encryption, although, which could require a change to a distinct model of the GSMA Common Profile than Apple is presently utilizing. The corporate has shared no plans as to when that may change.

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Involved customers and Google have demanded Apple help 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 instances 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 telephone (which defaults to SMS/MMS as a result of Apple does not but help RCS) inexperienced, to distinguish them from blue messages despatched by different individuals on iMessage. RCS help makes issues much more equal now, nevertheless it’s not clear it’ll change something culturally.

Finally, 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 as a result of Digital Markets Act, and that 5G telephones are reportedly required to support RCS in China.

How can I see if I’ve RCS help on my telephone?

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

Firstly, in the event you’re an Android person, it is best to use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will help it, Google’s strategy means you’ll 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 help or not, and if it is enabled.

Whenever you check in to a brand new telephone 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 through the directions above. In the identical menu, you may additionally discover different choices, resembling controlling typing indicators and browse receipts. Notice that you simply want wi-fi or mobile information to ship RCS messages, so there’s additionally the choice to ship an SMS as an alternative if RCS messages cannot be despatched.

Should you’re an iPhone person, Apple has designed the Messages app for iOS 18 to default to RCS in case your provider helps it, however you can even ensure that 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 underneath the Textual content Messaging part.
5. Ensure that RCS Messaging is toggled on.

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