What's RCS and the way is it totally different than SMS and iMessage?

For a few years there was a working battle between messaging companies. Regardless of many makes an attempt on Google’s half, there has by no means been a real messaging competitor to Apple’s iMessage.

Google has 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 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 obtainable on?

Associated

How to set up RCS chats on your Android phone

Do you need to activate RCS messaging in your Android telephone? This is the right way to flip it on and all the things it’s good to learn about this function.

What’s RCS?

The way forward for textual content messaging is right here… form of.

Wealthy communication companies (RCS) is a protocol between cell operators and telephones. The general intention of RCS is to switch SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all accustomed to as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging could be very very similar to WhatsApp, the place reside chat can happen, together with multimedia assist, with all the things dealt with through the information community.

This implies RCS messages could carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution pictures, movies, and audio messages to at least one one other.

The most important benefit RCS Messaging has over SMS — and the rationale it was applied within the first place — is that it improves upon the SMS/MMS messaging expertise, a lot in the identical method that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages could carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution pictures, movies, and audio messages to at least one one other. Typing indicators and browse receipts are additionally a part of RCS messaging, which is one thing customers absolutely love.

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 attainable, and little issues comparable to learn receipts and indicators to indicate different customers are typing a message are included as nicely. RCS messages additionally did away with the 160-character restrict presently present in SMS messages.

Companies can use RCS Messaging to ship issues like boarding passes for airways, package deal supply notifications, and bank card fraud alerts.

Is RCS encrypted and safe?

Quick reply: Sure, it is end-to-end

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 when you’re presently having an encrypted dialog by searching for the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps to your messages, search for a banner within the thread that exhibits a lock icon together with the individuals’ names, or search for the lock icon on the ship button.

If you wish to verify your dialog is personal, you’ll be able to observe the directions Google lays out here to substantiate verification codes within the Messages app with particular contacts.

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 resolution for RCS in a program known as CCMI — Cross-Provider Messaging Initiative — and we’re now ready the place RCS is globally obtainable and interoperable, besides Russia. At Google I/O 2023, Google stated there have been over 800 million month-to-month RCS customers.

In the event you ship an RCS message to somebody whose telephone or cell community does not assist it, it will likely be despatched as a daily textual content message.

Does the iPhone assist RCS messaging?

RCS is lastly coming to the iPhone in 2024

Apple has announced that it’ll work to assist the GSMA Common Profile for RCS on the iPhone in late 2024. Apple’s announcement that it’ll assist RCS signifies that Google Messages and Apple iMessage may work collectively, so it is attainable by the tip of the yr, iPhone and Android customers could have cross-platform wealthy messaging. Precisely how common the assist is for RCS in iMessage, and what that have seems to be like when Android messages are supported, stays to be seen, however we anticipate to know extra after the opening keynote for WWDC 2024 on June 10.

The principle purpose why Apple adopted RCS most likely has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated stress from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps have to work collectively within the Digital Markets Act.

For a few years, Apple has been beneath stress to assist RCS. Google has taunted Apple, with execs making statements about how RCS might make all gadgets work higher collectively and extra securely. Google actually went to city on this as this video exhibits.

The issue — particularly for customers within the US — is that iMessage is dominant and there is been some rigidity round blue and inexperienced bubbles. iMessage’s bubbles are inexperienced, with the default SMS bubbles being blue. When a message arrives from an Android person, it is a totally different shade than messages between iPhone customers. There’s been loads of social commentary round this, bordering on discrimination. However which may all come to an finish in 2024.

The principle reason why Apple adopted RCS most likely has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated stress from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps have to work collectively within the Digital Markets Act.

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

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

Firstly, when you’re an Android person, you must use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will assist it, Google’s strategy means it’s good to use its personal app).

Open the app and faucet the menu within the high right-hand nook.
Choose Messages settings.
Choose RCS Chats.
RCS Chats will inform you when you have assist or not, and if it is enabled.

Whenever you register to a brand new telephone and open Google Messages for the primary time, you may be requested if you wish to activate RCS Messaging. In the event you aren’t prompted, you’ll be able to flip it on through the directions above. In the identical menu, you may additionally discover different choices, comparable 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 the event you’re an iPhone person, the present reply is you do not have entry to RCS messaging, and you may want to attend till Apple formally provides assist — one thing we anticipate to see with iOS 18 later this yr.