Apple has finally confirmed that it will bring Rich Communication Services (RCS) to its iPhone devices in 2024. This is a long-awaited move that will enable iPhone users to enjoy enhanced messaging features such as group chats, read receipts, high-quality media sharing, and more.
One of the features that Android users have been enjoying for a while is RCS, or Rich Communication Services. This is a protocol that allows for more advanced messaging capabilities, such as group chats, read receipts, stickers, and media sharing. However, Apple has not shown much interest in adopting RCS for its iOS devices, instead focusing on its own proprietary iMessage service.
RCS is a new standard for messaging that aims to replace the outdated and limited SMS and MMS protocols. RCS offers a more interactive and engaging way of communicating with friends, family, and businesses. RCS also supports end-to-end encryption, which ensures the privacy and security of the messages.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
RCS has been widely adopted by Android devices, as Google has been pushing for its implementation since 2016. Google has also developed its own messaging app, Google Messages, which uses RCS as the default protocol when available. According to Statista, as of October 2021, Google Messages had over one billion downloads on the Google Play Store.
However, Apple has not shown any interest in supporting RCS on its devices. Instead, Apple relies on its own proprietary messaging service, iMessage, which is exclusive to iOS and macOS users. iMessage also offers many of the features that RCS does, such as group chats, read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality media sharing, stickers, emojis, and more. iMessage also supports end-to-end encryption, which means that only the sender and the receiver can read the messages, and not Apple or third parties.
So why was Apple so reluctant to embrace RCS? There are several possible reasons:
Apple wants to maintain its competitive edge over Android devices. iMessage is one of the main reasons why many people choose to buy an iPhone or a Mac, as it allows them to communicate seamlessly with other Apple users. iMessage also creates a sense of exclusivity and loyalty among Apple users, as they can enjoy features that are not available to Android users. By supporting RCS, Apple would lose some of its advantages over Android devices, as RCS would enable cross-platform communication with similar features.
Apple wants to protect its privacy reputation. Apple has been positioning itself as a champion of user privacy and security, especially in contrast to Google and Facebook, which rely on user data for advertising purposes. Apple has introduced several measures to enhance user privacy and security, such as App Tracking Transparency, Privacy Labels, iCloud Private Relay, and more.
By supporting RCS, Apple would have to rely on carriers or third parties to handle the messages, which could compromise user privacy and security. Although RCS supports end-to-end encryption, it is not mandatory or universal yet. Some carriers or regions may not implement it or may require access to user data for legal or regulatory reasons.
Apple wants to avoid technical challenges and complexities. Supporting RCS would require Apple to integrate its devices with different carriers and regions that may have different standards and implementations of RCS. This could create technical challenges and complexities for Apple, such as compatibility issues, performance issues, reliability issues, etc. Apple may also have to deal with regulatory or legal issues that may arise from supporting RCS in different markets. For example, some countries may ban or restrict the use of encryption or certain features of RCS.
Apple wants to wait for a better alternative. RCS is still a relatively new and evolving standard that may not meet all of Apple’s expectations or requirements. For example, RCS does not support advanced features that iMessage does, such as Animoji, Emoji, Tap back reactions, Message effects, etc. RCS also does not support seamless integration with other Apple services or apps, such as Siri, FaceTime, Wallet, etc. Apple may prefer to wait for a better alternative that can offer more benefits or advantages than RCS.
Apple’s announcement comes after years of speculation and pressure from the industry and consumers. Apple has been reluctant to adopt RCS, preferring to focus on its own iMessage service, which offers similar features but only works between Apple devices. However, as more and more Android devices support RCS, Apple has realized the need to join the bandwagon and offer a seamless messaging experience across platforms.
Apple said that it will roll out RCS support to iPhone users through a software update in the first quarter of 2024. The update will also include compatibility with Google’s Chat app, which is the main RCS client for Android devices. This means that iPhone and Android users will be able to message each other using RCS without any additional apps or settings.
What is the difference between RCS and SMS, and why is Apple so reluctant to embrace RCS?
RCS is a new standard for text messaging that aims to replace the outdated and limited SMS and MMS protocols. SMS, or Short Message Service, is the most common way of sending text messages, but it has many limitations, such as:
It can only send up to 160 characters per message. It does not support group chats, read receipts, typing indicators, or other features that are common in popular messaging apps. It does not support high-quality media sharing, such as photos, videos, audio, or documents. It does not support end-to-end encryption, which means that the messages can be read by the carriers or third parties.
MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Service, is an extension of SMS that allows sending media files, such as photos or videos, but it also has many limitations, such as:
It can only send up to 300 KB per message. It does not support group chats, read receipts, typing indicators, or other features that are common in popular messaging apps. It does not support high-quality media sharing, such as photos, videos, audio, or documents. It does not support end-to-end encryption, which means that the messages can be read by the carriers or third parties.
RCS offers many features that are common in popular messaging apps, such as:
It can send unlimited characters per message. It supports group chats, read receipts, typing indicators, and more. It supports high-quality media sharing, such as photos, videos, audio, documents, stickers, emojis, and more. It supports end-to-end encryption, which means that only the sender and the receiver can read the messages, and not the carriers or third parties.
Apple’s decision to embrace RCS is a welcome news for the messaging industry and consumers alike. It will bring more innovation and competition to the market, as well as more convenience and fun to the users. RCS is expected to become the universal standard for messaging in the near future, and Apple’s participation will accelerate its adoption and development.