iOS 18 is being rolled out today with RCS to enhance the messaging experience between Android and iPhone users. However, support for this feature is not yet available for all carriers, including Google Fi Wireless.
In a statement, Google has mentioned that “only Apple has the ability to enable RCS interoperability for iPhone users on Fi.” Google Fi has completed all necessary work to support iPhone RCS on their end.
With the launch of iOS 18 today, RCS is now enabled on major US carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. However, another MVNO where RCS is not yet available is Mint Mobile.
According to our colleagues at 9to5Mac, carriers need to send an updated file known as the Carrier Bundle to Apple to enable RCS support. Apple can then distribute this file as an over-the-air update without requiring a new OS version.
Update: Apple has recently added “RCS messaging” to the “Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone” help article.
“We have been working for a long time to accelerate the adoption of RCS, and are excited that Apple is taking steps to adopt RCS with the launch of iOS 18. At launch, Fi users with an Android phone will be able to communicate over RCS with iPhone users that have RCS interoperability enabled. Only Apple has the ability to enable RCS interoperability for iPhone users on Fi, and our hope is that they will do so in the near future.”
— Google spokesperson
As of today, Google Fi subscribers using Android devices can now “communicate over RCS with iPhone users that have RCS interoperability enabled.”
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