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 slightly 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 cellular provider within the US now help RCS messaging. However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have, and which gadgets is it accessible on?

What’s RCS?

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

Wealthy communication companies (RCS) is a protocol between cellular operators and telephones. The general goal of RCS is to switch SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all conversant in as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging may be very very like WhatsApp, the place dwell chat can happen, together with multimedia help, with the whole lot dealt with through the info community.

The most important benefit RCS Messaging has over SMS — and the explanation it was applied within the first place — is that it improves on the SMS/MMS messaging expertise, a lot in the identical approach that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages can carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution pictures, movies, and audio messages to 1 one other. Fashionable 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 straight throughout the messaging app, slightly than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are potential, and RCS messages additionally cast off the 160-character restrict at the moment present in SMS messages. Companies also can 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?

Quick 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 if you happen to’re at the moment having an encrypted dialog by in search of the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps in 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 personal, you possibly can 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 rising majority of Android telephones include Google Messages pre-installed or use it as their default messaging app, most RCS chats ought to be end-to-end encrypted, however encryption shouldn’t 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 most important US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, Dash and T-Cellular — have agreed on a cross-carrier resolution for RCS in a program referred to as CCMI — Cross-Provider Messaging Initiative — and we’re now ready the place RCS is globally accessible and interoperable, besides Russia. At Google I/O 2023, Google stated there have been over 800 million month-to-month RCS customers.

In case you ship an RCS message to somebody whose cellphone or cellular community would not help 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 position. RCS is a serious improve over the old-school Quick 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 embrace learn receipts, typing indicators, higher group chat help, increased high quality picture and video transfers, and, in some circumstances, 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 companies, the identical cannot be stated for us right here within the north-western hemisphere. In america 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 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 gadgets completely works higher than earlier than and is enriched with issues like audio messages and browse receipts, however 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 photographs and movies, voice messages, group chats, and file transfers. Notably lacking is any type of end-to-end encryption, although, which could require a swap to a unique model of the GSMA Common Profile than Apple is at the moment utilizing. The corporate has shared no plans as to when which 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 gadgets 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 help RCS) inexperienced, to distinguish them from blue messages despatched by different individuals on iMessage. RCS help makes issues much more equal now, however it’s not clear it should 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 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 cellphone?

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

Firstly, if you happen to’re an Android consumer, it’s 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 it’s essential 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 when you have help or not, and if it is enabled.

Once you check in to a brand new cellphone and open Google Messages for the primary time, you will be requested if you wish to activate RCS Messaging. In case you aren’t prompted, you possibly can flip it on through the directions above. In the identical menu, you will additionally discover different choices, similar to controlling typing indicators and browse receipts. Notice that you just want wi-fi or mobile knowledge to ship RCS messages, so there’s additionally the choice to ship an SMS as an alternative if RCS messages cannot be despatched.

In case 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 it’s also possible to be certain RCS messaging is enabled within the Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll right down to the Apps part and faucet it.
3. Faucet on Messages.
4. Faucet on RCS Messaging beneath the Textual content Messaging part.
5. Ensure RCS Messaging is toggled on.

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