What’s RCS and the way is it completely different than SMS or iMessage?

• What’s RCS?
• Is RCS encrypted and safe?
• Which telephones and carriers assist RCS?
• Does the iPhone assist RCS messaging?
• How can I see if I’ve RCS assist on my cellphone?

Because the 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 reasonably public, with Google goading Apple on many events, and Apple refusing to assist 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 assist RCS messaging. However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have, and which gadgets is it out there on?

What’s RCS?

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

Wealthy communication companies (RCS) is a protocol between cell operators and telephones. The general intention of RCS is to exchange SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all conversant in as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging could be very very like WhatsApp, the place reside chat can happen, together with multimedia assist, with all the things dealt with by way of 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 method that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages can carry extra info, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution pictures, movies, and audio messages to at least one one other. Standard 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 instantly inside the messaging app, reasonably than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are potential, and RCS messages additionally cast off the 160-character restrict at present present in SMS messages. Companies also can 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?

Quick reply: Sure, however not by default

Google Messages makes use of end-to-end encryption to make sure a dialog stays non-public between the sender and recipient. Your conversations are encrypted with a key that solely both participant can entry. You’ll be able to confirm should you’re at present having an encrypted dialog by on the lookout for the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps on 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 non-public, you may 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 needs to be end-to-end encrypted, however encryption isn’t 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 assist RCS?

RCS is sort of common

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

In case you ship an RCS message to somebody whose cellphone or cell community would not assist it, it is going to be despatched as an everyday textual content message.

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The textual content messaging panorama has been heating up recently, 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 assist, increased 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 a substitute embraced WhatsApp, Fb Messenger, Viber, and different competing companies, the identical cannot be mentioned for us right here within the north-western hemisphere. In the USA and Canada particularly, Apple’s iMessage enjoys a large set up base alongside the continued utilization of conventional SMS textual content messaging. Goo

Does the iPhone assist 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 assist 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 excellent. You will 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 sort of end-to-end encryption, although, which could require a swap to a distinct model of the GSMA Common Profile than Apple is at present utilizing. The corporate has shared no plans as to when that may change.

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Involved customers and Google have demanded Apple assist 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 assist RCS) inexperienced, to distinguish them from blue messages despatched by different individuals on iMessage. RCS assist 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 strain 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 assist on my cellphone?

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

Firstly, should 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 assist it, Google’s strategy means it is advisable 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 in case you have assist or not, and if it is enabled.

Once you sign up 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 may flip it on by way of the directions above. In the identical menu, you will additionally discover different choices, corresponding to controlling typing indicators and browse receipts. Notice that you just want wi-fi or mobile information to ship RCS messages, so there’s additionally the choice to ship an SMS as a substitute if RCS messages cannot be despatched.

In case 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 too can ensure 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. Make sure that RCS Messaging is toggled on.

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