The iPhone will assist RCS this fall when iOS 18 rolls out formally, one thing Apple confirmed in the course of the WWDC 2024 keynote earlier this month. That wasn’t a shock to anybody following the RCS drama carefully. Apple confirmed way back that it will assist RCS on the iPhone this 12 months, thus ending the chat wars.
What was shocking was seeing RCS assist get forcefully enabled in iOS 18 beta 1. Furthermore, Apple rolled out iOS 18 beta 2 earlier this week, which helps RCS on iPhone with none hacks. There’s one drawback that also stays: The carriers.
That’s proper, your cellular operator has to make RCS obtainable for iPhones engaged on its community. You’ll be able to’t have RCS texting in your iPhone operating iOS 18 beta 2 till your provider does that. And it seems to be like US carriers are all flipping the swap.
The iOS 18 beta 1 “hack” that compelled RCS assist on iPhone confirmed that RCS solely labored on AT&T and T-Cellular. iOS 18 beta 2 then introduced a brand new setting that permits you to activate RCS Messaging on the iPhone. Nonetheless, it nonetheless appeared like solely AT&T and T-Cellular iPhones would get it.
It’s even worse for worldwide iPhone customers. I’m utilizing iOS 18 beta 2 on my iPhone 14 Professional, however the RCS Messaging choice isn’t obtainable in Europe. My provider has but to allow the function.
Nonetheless, it seems to be like extra carriers are getting on board. In spite of everything, carriers have beforehand joined Google in asking Apple to assist RCS on the iPhone. As 9to5Mac notes, Verizon iPhones may deal with RCS texting in iOS 18 beta 2 within the US.
Extra worldwide cellular operators will seemingly observe within the coming months. I’d count on extra of them to activate RCS assist for iPhones in July when iOS 18 public beta 1 rolls out. Extra iPhone customers will set up the general public beta as soon as Apple makes it obtainable.
That stated, I’ll remind you that RCS texting on iPhone isn’t the identical as RCS texting on Android. You don’t get end-to-end encryption as a result of Apple helps the provider normal, not Google’s RCS. However you get richer communication, together with assist for full media file sharing, typing indicators, and browse receipts.
RCS messages will stay inexperienced, like SMS texts, nevertheless. Solely iMessages are blue on iPhone. The Messages app will point out within the kind subject whether or not you’re utilizing iMessage, SMS, or RCS to speak to somebody.
