The era of frustrating green-bubbled conversations could be coming to an end. Apple recently rolled out iOS 18 to the public, introducing support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) to enhance cross-platform messaging capabilities.
While RCS has a complex history as a potential SMS successor, it gained mainstream traction about five years ago when Google took the lead in its development. Google Messages has now become the standard on Android devices, offering an iMessage-like experience. After some resistance, Apple finally adopted RCS following pressure from China.
This development benefits both iPhone and Android users, as cross-platform messaging will now include features like typing indicators, read receipts, and improved media quality, similar to iMessage and other messaging apps.
One key missing feature in Apple’s RCS implementation is end-to-end encrypted messaging, a feature present in iMessage but not in RCS Universal Profile. The GSMA is working on incorporating user protections like interoperable end-to-end encryption, but a timeline for this feature’s implementation is still unclear.
RCS relies on carriers’ networks, so iPhone users will only have RCS support if their carrier offers it. Apple does not have its own RCS infrastructure like Google, which could pose challenges for some carriers in supporting RCS on iPhones.
How to Check if You Have RCS Enabled
To confirm RCS activation on your iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and look for RCS Messaging. If it’s not enabled by default, you may need to activate it manually. If your carrier doesn’t support RCS, the option may not appear in your settings.
RCS conversations in the Messages app will have green bubbles like SMS, but you can differentiate them by the watermarked text in the message entry box and the presence of typing indicators and read receipts.
RCS also works between iPhones, even if iMessage is disabled on one or both devices. However, SMS will still be used for automated notifications and messages to devices without RCS support.
While RCS offers enhanced messaging features, it requires a data connection and may fall back to SMS in the absence of data. Apple continues to expand RCS support, ensuring a more seamless messaging experience for iPhone users.
