Google Reveals When to Expect RCS Support on iPhone for Improved Texting With Android Users

[Michael Scrip]

Even if Apple implements RCS who is going to use it?

If an iPhone user sends a photo to an Android user... it will be using RCS.

If a group chat has iPhone users and Android users... it will be using RCS.

That's the hope, anyway.

It should be invisible to the user. No one really cares about which communication protocol a text message is sent with. People just want it to work well.

 

[EugW]

I do not believe that people at Google are that dumb to think that RCS is the “next big thing”. I cannot even blame Apple for not implementing it because who cares?

I cannot think of much people outside the US to even use iMessage either. Here in Europe people often get irritated if someone messages them via SMS or iMessage, in some countries it is often seen as a bad tone. Viber, Whatsapp and Telegram are the messaging platforms of choice. Teens often use Instagram chat.

Even if Apple implements RCS who is going to use it?

RCS is another example of why Google is poor at innovation. Does anyone remember how they pushed their AMP that it ended in everyone hating it and eventually people on Reddit even made a bot to convert AMP links to regular ones

RCS is often the default secondary messaging system for Android users, but it depends on the location. For me, I will likely be using RCS on day one, as a substitute for SMS as the fall back for iMessage.

Also, iMessage is extremely popular not just in the US, but also in Canada and Australia.

Here in Canada, I currently do not use anything besides iMessage and SMS. All our group messages are either iMessage-only or else SMS based. If I were ever to get a 3rd party messaging app, the first I'd consider would probably be WhatsApp. However, WhatsApp alone would be a big problem since I know lots of people in China or who communicate with people in China, so there'd have to be WeChat as well. And unfortunately, to a large extent, WeChat and WhatsApp users are mutually exclusive. The other one I see used is Messenger, but less so, aside from young kids - Messenger Kids. I don't know anyone with Viber, Telegram, or Signal. I do know of people with Snapchat, but they seem to be dying out so it would be a total waste of time getting Snapchat.

Has using iMessage with SMS fall back been problematic for me? Yes, but not because people don't use SMS. It's been problematic due to lack of multimedia support. RCS would solve that problem.

 

[dk001]

Which Google messaging app does this correspond to?

My friend is on a Samsung but I have no idea what the default messaging app is on it.

Google Messages. That was the initial default on my S24U.

 

[dk001]

I think RCS should be a third colour really, as the functional difference to SMS is too big.

I’d rather Apple let us theme it.

 

[dk001]

WhatsApp and WeChat are so commonly used that they have become kind of de facto standards for messaging, since both can run under iOS and Android. Especially WhatsApp, which is very popular worldwide except for parts of Asia where WeChat dominates.

I was surprised but found out recently that WeChat is more functional on Android than iOS. I don’t use it but I have a number of peers in China that do. It’s kind of their everything in one app. It is help driving hardware competition in China.

 

[Rogifan]

I'm old, so while I tease my friends about green bubbles, it's not a status thing. Just that our group message is likely hosed.

But kids, they make everything a status symbol. From wearing last year's tennis shoes to the car they drive. The bubble thing is just a shortcut to green equals poor Android user. And yes, I know there are expensive Androids, but we're talking about averages here.

I don’t think kids care what color someone’s bubble is in a group chat. Adults at the Verge do though.

 

[EugW]

I was surprised but found out recently that WeChat is more functional on Android than iOS. I don’t use it but I have a number of peers in China that do.

But why would that be so surprising? Android is hugely dominant in China.

I don’t think kids care what color someone’s bubble is in a group chat. Adults at the Verge do though.

Well, you'd be surprised.

 

[dk001]

But why would that be so surprising? Android is hugely dominant in China.

Had a good discussion about it. Their perspective was interesting.

Apparently in China WeChat is their everything in one app. Android is more popular because Apple is crippling WeChat on iOS. Users buy the device that catches their fancy. If the iPhone won’t run what the users want, they buy what does. This is driving hardware innovation on Android to attract customers.

 

[EugW]

Had a good discussion about it. Their perspective was interesting.

Apparently in China WeChat is their everything in one app. Android is more popular because Apple is crippling WeChat on iOS. Users buy the device that catches their fancy. If the iPhone won’t run what the users want, they buy what does. This is driving hardware innovation on Android to attract customers.

I suspect the main reason Android is more popular is because the vast majority of the population in China cannot afford to buy an iPhone.

But yeah, while I don't know that much about WeChat since I don't use it, I do know there's important popular stuff like WeChat Pay for example. Here in Toronto, a lot of Asian stores and some tourist location shops (and even some non-tourist non-Asian shops) accept both WeChat Pay and AliPay.

 

[CapitalIdea]

Funny thing is, it's rather vice versa - Android users currently punishing iMessage users.

From what I've heard, it's a mess (for all iPhone users) when you include one Android user in the group chat.

Easy solution: stop including that rando at the lunch table.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

What other communication apps will support RCS ? WhatsApp ,telegram?

I'm.trying to understand, is it about feature parity (having rcs FEATURES for all platforms) OR is it about actual RCS implementation in all messaging apps ?

And will it be on macOS , ipadOS, and desktop too?

And does it mean that I will be able to use iMessages on my Mac even if I have an Android?

 

[3530025]

Easy solution: stop including that rando at the lunch table.

You mean that one with the iPhone and iMessage? Because that's the situation in the Europe.

Almost everyone is using WhatsApp here - that solves everything, we don't need to differentiate between Android and iPhone users. Everyone is equal. Those using iMessage are proper weirdos.

It's funny how flipped this stuff is between US and Europe (and presumably Asia too).

 

[EugW]

You mean that one with the iPhone and iMessage? Because that's the situation in the Europe.

Almost everyone is using WhatsApp here - that solves everything, we don't need to differentiate between Android and iPhone users. Everyone is equal. Those using iMessage are proper weirdos.

It's funny how flipped this stuff is between US and Europe (and presumably Asia too).

I mentioned it earlier, but amongst my acquaintances, for the non-iMessage users, they are split between WhatsApp and WeChat. Unfortunately they often only use one and not the other. They seem to be largely mutually exclusive.

Interestingly, for our group chats, SMS is the great equalizer.

 

[Abazigal]

Had a good discussion about it. Their perspective was interesting.

Apparently in China WeChat is their everything in one app. Android is more popular because Apple is crippling WeChat on iOS. Users buy the device that catches their fancy. If the iPhone won’t run what the users want, they buy what does. This is driving hardware innovation on Android to attract customers.

I don’t know why people find it so surprising that a product that costs more will naturally have a smaller market share. This is a feature of Apple’s business model, not a bug. They make a premium experience that people are willing to pay a premium for. This also means their products will never have the greatest market share in their respective markets, but even 20% worldwide still works out to an impressive number of iPhones sold (especially for a single company), and it’s enough to make Apple insanely profitable.

 

[Beautyspin]

This is literally the only feature I've been awaiting for iOS. In addition, it will be good if it turns out our oldest active iPhone, the iPhone XR, is supported. And rumour has it, it will. That would be the icing on the cake.

As for other rumoured iOS 18 features like AI? I really couldn't give a chit.


This social status thing is a stupid phenomenon, but The Verge and WSJ didn't create it.


Well, Google didn't actually specifically tell you RCS would be coming with iOS 18. All they said is it's coming this fall.

Anyhow, it's nice to be able to get real confirmation of the relative time frame. That time frame is a bit more specific than was previously known.

Google knows Apple has no choice. Their overlords had decreed that RCS is mandatory in their country and Apple is jumping through hoops to comply.

Serious Problem For Apple’s 1 Billion iPhone Users Suddenly Confirmed

Apple’s difficult 2024 just got worse…

www.forbes.com

"The MIIT’s report was addressed to “all relevant mobile phone manufacturers,” and warned that “in order to further strengthen the cooperation of the terminal network and help the scale of 5G messages… devices [will] need to support 5G messages.”

Manufacturers would be further instructed to “standardize the interface display of 5G messages, and significantly distinguish 5G messages from ordinary short (colour) information and other types of information. The content and form of 5G message display shall not be changed without authorization, and the main body of information release and transmission channels shall not be confused.”"

 

[mike2q]

This is why Every other country uses apps and not RCS. The only ppl who care are American android users mainly.

False. The only ones who care are iOS users. Android already has RCS and it works great. When an Android user is part of a group message Apple makes the experience worse for all of the iPhone users in the group. The only reason an Android user would care is because their iPhone friends in the group message complain. Look, It's fine if you don't like Android as an operating system but it seems odd to me that you have this visceral loathing for it. Android, it would seem, lives rent free in your head.

 

[mike2q]

I really wish android users woild come with a better argument. Anytime someone mentions android being bad the default argument is that we have nonn no idea about android except budget.

I own a 22 ultra and flip 4.

But thank you for proving my point that android is terrible unless you are using high end. And even then it is still terrible.

I notice no lag on my 15 pm.

Your comments on here regularly show that you are completely obsessed with being anti-android. To say you own three phones and two of them are of a type that make you froth at the mouth when other people even mention them makes me laugh. You're either a liar OR you make poor personal choices. Either way, they're just phones and not worth investing hate in. Between work and home I have both a 15 Pro Max and a Galaxy S24 Ultra. They are both great and neither are "laggy" as you say. In fact, the still not fixed iOS micro stutters make the Pro Max feel a bit more laggy. Still, both are great.

 

[dk001]

What other communication apps will support RCS ? WhatsApp ,telegram?

I'm.trying to understand, is it about feature parity (having rcs FEATURES for all platforms) OR is it about actual RCS implementation in all messaging apps ?

And will it be on macOS , ipadOS, and desktop too?

And does it mean that I will be able to use iMessages on my Mac even if I have an Android?

Not sure. Right now looking to have RCS as an SMS/MMS replacement. On iOS, ONLY iMessage is allowed to support SMS/MMS. Having others support RCS would mean being allowed to be the default messaging?

For your last question, it should work that way.

 

[dk001]

I don’t know why people find it so surprising that a product that costs more will naturally have a smaller market share. This is a feature of Apple’s business model, not a bug. They make a premium experience that people are willing to pay a premium for. This also means their products will never have the greatest market share in their respective markets, but even 20% worldwide still works out to an impressive number of iPhones sold (especially for a single company), and it’s enough to make Apple insanely profitable.

Maybe? But the Android covers cheaper than an iPhone to more expensive than an iPhone. In this case I suspect that it might be the lack of app or restricted app functionality that is hurting Apple in China. Now all phones in China have to support RCS by 2025.

Something else is driving the proliferation of models available in the Asia market. I wish we could get some of those here in the US.

 

[EugW]

Maybe? But the Android covers cheaper than an iPhone to more expensive than an iPhone. In this case I suspect that it might be the lack of app that is hurting Apple in China. Now all phones in China have to support RCS by 2025.

Something else is driving the proliferation of models available in the Asia market. I wish we could get some of those here in the US.

The large majority of Android phones in China are on the cheap side. For the same reason they can't afford to buy expensive iPhones, they can't buy expensive Android phones either.

Share of ≥$500 Segment in Major Regional Premium Markets and GDP Per Capita, 2022

ie. 60% of phones purchased in the US in 2022 were in the ≥$500 segment
vs. 26% of phones purchased in China in 2022 were in the ≥$500 segment

 

[dk001]

The large majority of Android phones in China are on the cheap side. For the same reason they can't afford to buy expensive iPhones, they can't buy expensive Android phones either.

Share of ≥$500 Segment in Major Regional Premium Markets and GDP Per Capita, 2022

View attachment 2363671

ie. 60% of phones purchased in the US in 2022 were in the ≥$500 segment
vs. 26% of phones purchased in China in 2022 were in the ≥$500 segment

I hear you but … there are some really pricey phones in that market too. They mostly don’t make it to the US. Something has to be driving that market design proliferation.

 

[svish]

Not surprising at all. Was only expecting to see it along with a new release of iOS/iPhones in September.

 

[EugW]

I hear you but … there are some really pricey phones in that market too. They mostly don’t make it to the US. Something has to be driving that market design proliferation.

This is my superficial take on things:

The companies are Chinese owned companies producing for the Chinese domestic market. The market is huge but skews to the lower end because that’s what most people can afford. But there are a ton of different designs because there are a ton of customers who will buy them.

They tried selling to the US market but were bested by the likes of Samsung at the high end, and popular brands like Huawei were actually essentially banned by the US govt.

Here in Canada, I own a Huawei monitor, but it is not sold in the US (at least by mainstream retailers) because of the Huawei ban. Huawei has the highest market share of mobile handsets in China but sales in the US are effectively zero because of the ban.

The US government says it’s a national security issue, and while there is likely good reason for that, the fact that it acts as an anti-China protectionism probably plays into it too.

 

[avercros]

You mean that one with the iPhone and iMessage? Because that's the situation in the Europe.

Almost everyone is using WhatsApp here - that solves everything, we don't need to differentiate between Android and iPhone users. Everyone is equal. Those using iMessage are proper weirdos.

It's funny how flipped this stuff is between US and Europe (and presumably Asia too).

Include Latin America in that list, we use WhatsApp too.

 

[Hails09]

I still want to punish Android users.

A bit sad of attitude to take