Does/Will RCS with international folks work like normal without worrying about extra charges?

[Goodeye]

Just like the title says.

Does anyone know if RCS will work like normal. With how Apple is supporting it I wanted to be sure. I know basically if you were on Android and sending via Google Messages to another Google Messages user internationally, its sent via data.

However, how does it work with iPhone to Android where lets say the Android is international? So I have a good friend who lives in Japan now teaching English there has been there for years we and our friend group communicate via Google Chat but Im the only iPhone user. Theoretically it should work and no extra charges for either of us right? I have no idea who his carrier is but mine is Verizon. He did test by sending me a message and I did get it and it is showing as RCS.

I've not responded cause I know Apple is doing some odd stuff to make it all work. Trying to make sure I'm not going to get charged for sending an international text.

 

[TimFL1]

If it sends as RCS, it‘s using data. Otherwise it shows SMS in the text entry box and also above the message in the conversation view.

The dumb thing about RCS on iOS is, that it can flick down to SMS at any time depending on your connection quality (unlike iMessage, which just fails to send).

 

[Goodeye]

If it sends as RCS, it‘s using data. Otherwise it shows SMS in the text entry box and also above the message in the conversation view.

The dumb thing about RCS on iOS is, that it can flick down to SMS at any time depending on your connection quality (unlike iMessage, which just fails to send).

Yeah I know it changes its weird when it does that.

Im more wanting to make sure that verizon wont charge me like they would with a text sending internationally since it seems Apple is doing some stuff with Carriers to support the RCS, whereas if I understand how Google Messages app works Google handles all the RCS messaging within the app and their servers (much like Apple does with iMessage).

 

[TimFL1]

Yeah I know it changes its weird when it does that.

Im more wanting to make sure that verizon wont charge me like they would with a text sending internationally since it seems Apple is doing some stuff with Carriers to support the RCS, whereas if I understand how Google Messages app works Google handles all the RCS messaging within the app and their servers (much like Apple does with iMessage).

All carriers on iOS, that added support for RCS, use Google / Jibe as their endpoint so it‘s the same as Google Messages.

 

[HouseLannister]

(unlike iMessage, which just fails to send).

Mine never fails, but does downgrade to SMS when iMessage is unavailable. Mostly when I am in the boonies and have no LTE/5G. It's a setting "Send as Text Message."

 

[TimFL1]

Mine never fails, but does downgrade to SMS when iMessage is unavailable. Mostly when I am in the boonies and have no LTE/5G.

I mean, iMessage chats persist even through bad connections here. When you have bad or no signal, the thread still shows as iMessage (if you have auto SMS turned off).

RCS just jumps to SMS right away, even a lot of times when your connection is seemingly good (which is annoying, when you accidentally use SMS/MMS and get charged). Wish they‘d keep RCS chats as RCS and give you the option to retry as SMS.

 

[Goodeye]

Yeah I pinged Verizon just to be sure too and they confirmed as long as it was RCS and I was on Wifi or Cellular it would be. Worse case if I'm worried I'll just make sure I dont RCS message my friend unless on WiFi.

 

[Goodeye]

I will add that I know that RCS is much like iMessage in that it sends over data. However, I know that many carriers also have RCS integration and I'm not sure how Apple was/is doing their RCS to make it all work, it seemed like it really needed carrier support.

Because of that I didn't trust Verizon not to have another excuse to charge users.

 

[one more]

I've not responded cause I know Apple is doing some odd stuff to make it all work. Trying to make sure I'm not going to get charged for sending an international text.

You could try responding to your friend in Japan just for the fun of it, in the worst case Verizon will charge you a buck for it, but this way you will know for sure.

 

[Goodeye]

You could try responding to your friend in Japan just for the fun of it, in the worst case Verizon will charge you a buck for it, but this way you will know for sure.

I did after Verizon got back to me to confirm they don't charge anything for international RCS messages (which go over Data anyways but my concern was if they have RCS integration Verizon of all carriers would certainly charge if they could)

 

[DakotaGuy]

I will add that I know that RCS is much like iMessage in that it sends over data. However, I know that many carriers also have RCS integration and I'm not sure how Apple was/is doing their RCS to make it all work, it seemed like it really needed carrier support.

Because of that I didn't trust Verizon not to have another excuse to charge users.

Apple's RCS needs carrier support to work, however most carriers use Jibe to offer this support including Verizon. Even Google Messages takes the carrier path to Jibe unless the carrier does not support. In that case, Google just goes around them and offers direct Jibe support in Messages. The difference is that RCS will work in Google Messages even if the carrier does not support. On the iPhone the carrier must support (even though most use the Jibe servers) to use RCS. I guess Apple must feel that since RCS was designed to be a carrier service they will only support it if the carrier does. Technically they are doing it the correct way, but it does cut out people who don't have carrier support.

 

[Goodeye]

Apple's RCS needs carrier support to work, however most carriers use Jibe to offer this support including Verizon. Even Google Messages takes the carrier path to Jibe unless the carrier does not support. In that case, Google just goes around them and offers direct Jibe support in Messages. The difference is that RCS will work in Google Messages even if the carrier does not support. On the iPhone the carrier must support (even though most use the Jibe servers) to use RCS. I guess Apple must feel that since RCS was designed to be a carrier service they will only support it if the carrier does. Technically they are doing it the correct way, but it does cut out people who don't have carrier support.

Makes sense. I thought I had remembered hearing something similar with that before. I just wanted to be sure before I started messaging my friend in Japan and ended up with a big bill.

I will say that friend is beyond excited they should be able to text more easily with their iOS using family now too.

 

[JamesMay82]

I mean, iMessage chats persist even through bad connections here. When you have bad or no signal, the thread still shows as iMessage (if you have auto SMS turned off).

RCS just jumps to SMS right away, even a lot of times when your connection is seemingly good (which is annoying, when you accidentally use SMS/MMS and get charged). Wish they‘d keep RCS chats as RCS and give you the option to retry as SMS.

Oh no! I was hoping to replace what’s app with new RCS feature.. no good if it switches and charges you for date.. in particular with picture messages I get charged 30 for each photo I send to a non iPhone user

 

[TimFL1]

Oh no! I was hoping to replace what’s app with new RCS feature.. no good if it switches and charges you for date.. in particular with picture messages I get charged 30 for each photo I send to a non iPhone user

You can alleviate that by disabling MMS in settings. That way you can make sure that you never accidentally send images outside of RCS.

 

[JamesMay82]

You can alleviate that by disabling MMS in settings. That way you can make sure that you never accidentally send images outside of RCS.

Thanks just spotted that exists now and switched off!

 

[Adora]

You can alleviate that by disabling MMS in settings. That way you can make sure that you never accidentally send images outside of RCS.

Yes, MMS is the only thing that might get expensive even just national. I always disabled them. Years ago when text only SMS were more expensive than now and there were no national flat rates, the international ones had been even cheaper somehow. At least in my country. In never saw an MMS flat rate by the way. Does this exist in the U.S. because of this blue vs. green bubble thing?