RCS in iOS 18: What You Need to Know About Apple's Android Messaging Overhaul

[headlessmike]

Tim Cook's mediocrity strikes again. If both SMS and RCS messages are green, how will we know if the message is SMS or RCS?

Why not make RCS messages a different color, i.e., not green nor blue, but rather a third color? Oh, I forgot—that's far too logical and user-friendly for Tim Cook's mediocre MBA mind to comprehend.

Apple has barely confirmed RCS support. I don’t think anyone knows what color things will be yet.

 

[avatar77]

Don't understand the complaints. Is RCS perfect? No. Will it offer iPhone users a better cross-platform messaging experience than SMS? For certain. And it won't cost us anything. Stop letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.

 

[Rychiar]

That's basically the only time it doesn't work (it's a carrier issue at that point) or if you happen to live somewhere in the world without the carrier enabling it (the U.S. carriers have it enabled, Canada as well, most/all European ones should too). If you live on a cruise ship, you're out of luck.

Are you from the U.S.? Try it when not on a cruise ship. I do SMS over WiFi (unless iOS is lying and my phone really isn't in Airplane Mode) almost every day of my life and have for 2-3 years. I don't use Facebook Messenger or any other messaging app other than iMessage. Most of the people I text with have iPhones but there are dozens that I text regularly that have Android phones. It works. I've also done it in Canada. I've also sent MMS over WiFi (in Airplane Mode from an iPhone to an Android phone).

Here it is in Australia: https://www.telstra.com.au/exchange/switching-on-sms-over-wi-fi-on-our-mobile-network

Before I started switching on Airplane Mode, sending and receiving SMS at home (poor cell coverage) was a pain. I'd have to find the couple spots in my house where there was almost enough signal for it to work (or walk outside for a while to find better signal). Once I switched to Airplane Mode, all those issues (and the fast battery drain due to no cell coverage!) went away. It just works.

I am from the US. Turning on airplane mode by itslef doesn’t work. Do i need to turn on Wi-Fi calling to get Wi-Fi sms? I have Wi-Fi calling turned off cus i think it made my HomePods not work right or FaceTime audio or something a couple years ago

 

[MilaM]

Perhaps it is because the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China has issued a draft for comments on the notification document on RCS. If this notification document is officially released, all 5G mobile phones that apply for network access licenses must support "5G Xiaoxi/5G Message", or RCS, 6 months after the notification document is issued.

This makes a lot of sense. Thanks for posting this.

 

[fabbydabby1]

I guess this is good as long as my messages never touch Google servers. If they do … sorry Apple you screwed up. I cannot see a single advantage of this over iMessages. Google must have paid some pretty money or their lobbyist paid a lot to some eurocrats and hinted Apple might be forced.

Just don’t txt an android phone then

 

[neuropsychguy]

I am from the US. Turning on airplane mode by itslef doesn’t work. Do i need to turn on Wi-Fi calling to get Wi-Fi sms? I have Wi-Fi calling turned off cus i think it made my HomePods not work right or FaceTime audio or something a couple years ago

Yes, WiFi calling has to be on. If you can't have it on because of other issues, that's a separate issue but I have no problems with HomePods or FaceTime audio with it on.

 

[fabbydabby1]

Exactly. ALL phones support SMS, because ALL phones are compatible with the old but gold rock solid GSM network.
That's why and how a Nokia 3310 can call or send a text message (SMS) to an iPhone 15 and vice versa.

In other words, SMS will always be needed and will always be used, because SMS works without mobile data.
SMS is essential to and supported by all mobile phones worldwide. RCS is and will always be a dodgy niche "feature".

Because sms was created before the ability to txt over WiFi & cellular but most carriers are starting to switch off their 2g network and some are starting to switch off 3G so things like RCS will be here to stay

 

[fabbydabby1]

This is really the best outcome. Better texting for all but Apple isn’t caving to Google‘s proprietary and spotty encryption. I’m excited!

Every major network in the UK is going to start using google’s RCS implementation for their android phones & it’s only a matter of time before it gets rolled out worldwide

 

[minik]

Used to have an Android and yes it’s horrific. Without RCS every tag shows up as separate text e.g. “Johnny liked a photo” instead of a thumbs up showing up next to the message. Photos and video are low quality. And everything is insecure clear text for the *whole group.*

For folks who use WhatsApp etc there will be no change so I dont understand the complaint. Personally something like 90% of my friends and family mainly use built in messaging and 80% use that exclusively. This varies by group but I know almost no one who uses WhatsApp and none who use telegram. And if they do they all like something different so fall back to built in messaging anyway. I do know outside the US third party apps are far more popular (WhatsApp in Europe, WeChat in China, etc) so this will be less important but in the US it’s huge in my opinion unless you only communicate with iPhone users.

Oh yea, I remember the extra line of expression came from iOS devices. The non-end to end encryption may be problematic.

 

[fabbydabby1]

Quick question:
Here in the UK if I want to send a photo to an Android phone, it gets sent as a MMS message and this costs around 55 pence per message.

I was wondering when RCS is implemented, would sending the same thing, would it just be like when I send a photo in an iMessage, i.e. it just uses data and does not incur the MMS 55 pence charge?

Yes because you would send the picture over cellular or WiFi.
So one would imagine it would no longer convert to MMS if they were on a carrier that supported it.
All major carriers in uk going to start using google’s RCS so if on one of them you would be fine

 

[truthsteve]

It doesn't make it confusing. Get on your phone and send a text message through Apple Messages to anyone in your phonebook. It'll figure out automatically what's compatible and use the best technology to communicate with them. If it's an iPhone to an iPhone It'll be an iMessage unless you literally have no data service then It'll fallback to SMS. Send a message to an Android phone and it'll use RCS unless there is no data service then It'll fall back to SMS. The user won't need to do anything or install anything. You just text.

except before rcs, it was already confusing

if I wanted to text someone that has an android phone and an iPad, iMessage defaults to iMessage instead of sms.

so when you text 'where are you', unless that person is carrying an iPad in their coat, they won't get that message.

now with rcs, you have a third category of people to worry about. you have iMessage groups, you have rcs groups, and you have sms groups. each have different rules of what you can and cannot do.

you don't just 'text'.

 

[truthsteve]

I doubt most people notice or care. They just message.

plenty notice already even before rcs. especially when one person has an iPad and android. it defaults to iMessage so texts don't get sent to android and communication breaks down.

 

[fabbydabby1]

except before rcs, it was already confusing

if I wanted to text someone that has an android phone and an iPad, iMessage defaults to iMessage instead of sms.

so when you text 'where are you', unless that person is carrying an iPad in their coat, they won't get that message.

now with rcs, you have a third category of people to worry about. you have iMessage groups, you have rcs groups, and you have sms groups. each have different rules of what you can and cannot do.

you don't just 'text'.

What are you on about
If you txt a pixel phone & there carrier supports RCS it will send it because it uses cellular or WiFi just like iMessage & if it doesn’t it will just revert to SMS
It’s not difficult

 

[gregmancuso]

This is NOT true. RCS does not replace SMS, it augments it, just like iMessage does. Both iMessage and RCS can "fall back" to SMS when no data connection is available.

This. And the comment in the article that RCS is "cellular or WiFi" while SMS is "cellular only" is flat out wrong. SMS is "cellular" in that it uses excess bandwidth in the tower signaling channel. It was developed by the carriers as a way to monetize unused bandwidth they had to carry and pay for anyway. Why do you think that SMS messages were originally short text only? They had to fit in the spare packet space.

RCS is data layer traffic. Using data over the mobile network or a local WiFi network is just noise. Where the article got it right is that SMS / MMS are not going away and will be used when RCS is not available or supported. Of course a SMS is the fallback when DATA service is not available.

And this paragraph from teh article is just nonsensical:

RCS is a replacement for SMS (Short Messaging Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), both of which are used for data sharing over cellular networks. RCS combines the features of SMS and MMS, and adds additional functionality. It will be what allows you to send texts to people who don't have iPhones for iMessage.

Edit to add: I should clarify - SMS originally ran over the spare bandwidth on the signaling channel. That was when all mobile phones were analog and relied on tower cells (hence cellular). I have not worked directly in telecom since a contract with MCI ended decades ago so: now that all comms are digital I really don't know how the phone <--> tower <--> carrier network comms are managed. In any case without data (cellular or WiFi) RCS (probably?) cannot travel unless the carrier directly implements support for it at the network level (below user "cellular data" service).

 

[zach-coleman]

Every major network in the UK is going to start using google’s RCS implementation for their android phones & it’s only a matter of time before it gets rolled out worldwide

Not gonna happen in the US now clearly. Might happen in Europe…

 

[truthsteve]

What are you on about
If you txt a pixel phone & there carrier supports RCS it will send it because it uses cellular or WiFi just like iMessage & if it doesn’t it will just revert to SMS
It’s not difficult

see, even you are confused

currently, if you have Joseph in your contacts that has a phone number tied to a pixel phone and an email tied to an iPad with iMessage, iOS will default to iMessage instead of the pixel phone. Joseph won't get the message until he checks his iPad.

you have to manually separate Joseph in your contacts app. Joseph pixel and Joseph iPad so you can properly send a message to pixel by default when you type in the name. either that or you have to make sure to tap on the disclosure button on the right and manually select the pixel number to send the message

if you don't understand this, clearly it's difficult for many.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

If you have ever been in a poor coverage or congested area where voice calls or cellular data does not work, e.g a rural area or a stadium event, SMS is the only way to stay connected.

I hope Google does not have an ulterior motive by championing RCS, e.g. inserting adds. Sure your messages are encrypted, but that does not mean a MITM can’t insert ads.

I enabled RCS on Google Messages and all I got was ads (Update: Google responds)

If ads have started to appear in your Google Messages app, you're not alone. The RCS messaging standard may be responsible.

www.androidauthority.com

RCS is one step closer to the dystopian future predicted by Mike Judge in the film Idiocracy.

 

[Fatboy71]

Yes because you would send the picture over cellular or WiFi.
So one would imagine it would no longer convert to MMS if they were on a carrier that supported it.
All major carriers in uk going to start using google’s RCS so if on one of them you would be fine

Or that's good to know, I'm on EE so should be supported. Thanks.

 

[3530025]

That's basically the only time it doesn't work (it's a carrier issue at that point) or if you happen to live somewhere in the world without the carrier enabling it (the U.S. carriers have it enabled, Canada as well, most/all European ones should too). If you live on a cruise ship, you're out of luck.

Are you from the U.S.? Try it when not on a cruise ship. I do SMS over WiFi (unless iOS is lying and my phone really isn't in Airplane Mode) almost every day of my life and have for 2-3 years. I don't use Facebook Messenger or any other messaging app other than iMessage. Most of the people I text with have iPhones but there are dozens that I text regularly that have Android phones. It works. I've also done it in Canada. I've also sent MMS over WiFi (in Airplane Mode from an iPhone to an Android phone).

Here it is in Australia: https://www.telstra.com.au/exchange/switching-on-sms-over-wi-fi-on-our-mobile-network

Before I started switching on Airplane Mode, sending and receiving SMS at home (poor cell coverage) was a pain. I'd have to find the couple spots in my house where there was almost enough signal for it to work (or walk outside for a while to find better signal). Once I switched to Airplane Mode, all those issues (and the fast battery drain due to no cell coverage!) went away. It just works.

Wow, SMS over Wi-Fi. That’s something new. Here in the EU we have only VoWiFi (voice over WiFi). No SMS over WiFi as I am aware of. I’m taking back my downvote and accept my apologies. Today I learnt something new.

 

[arw]

Is this something that's not available in the US? I don't have that menu on my phone (AT&T).

I updated my post from before:
Tap on "Settings > About > Network Provider" which then switches to "IMS Status" to show the supported features.
AT&T supports Wi-Fi calling for iPhone 6 or newer.
Their guide says to enable it here: "Settings > Cellular > Turn on Wi-Fi Calling, review important info and confirm your emergency 911 address"

Wi-Fi Calling from AT&T

Wi-Fi Calling from AT&T lets you talk and text over a Wi-Fi connection, even when cellular coverage is limited or unavailable.

www.att.com

Wow, SMS over Wi-Fi. That’s something new. Here in the EU we have only VoWiFi (voice over WiFi). No SMS over WiFi as I am aware of. I’m taking back my downvote and accept my apologies. Today I learnt something new.

It's easy to get confused by all these new features.
VoWiFi can indeed send/receive SMS as well - defined as "IR.51": IMS Profile for Voice, Video and SMS over Wi-Fi.
So technically even video is possible via VoWiFi.

https://www.gsma.com/futurenetworks/ip_services/vowifi/

Most European operators have implemented the SMS part by now. But there is no law so some might lack behind.

 

[Mr Todhunter]

Sounds like you might have a configuration issue. Here's Telia's page for how to set up MMS on an iPhone: https://www.telia.se/foretag/support/info/apn-installningar-for-din-iphone

Telia sends a link as a fallback to phones that are not set up for MMS.

Thank you. I'll look into it.

 

[jlc1978]

plenty notice already even before rcs. especially when one person has an iPad and android. it defaults to iMessage so texts don't get sent to android and communication breaks down.

Do android devices get different color bubbles? I suspect most iPhone users don’t care. Android users might but that’s not Apple’s problem.

 

[carestudio]

> iMessage conversations will continue to be denoted with blue chat bubbles, and RCS messages will continue to be green

YES, this is exactly what I care. I know my phone with proud blue is better than people on other side of world.

 

[ThomasJL]

Apple has barely confirmed RCS support. I don’t think anyone knows what color things will be yet.

According to the OP, the color for RCS messages will be green. I edited my previous post to include a quote of the relevant portion of the OP.

 

[truthsteve]

Do android devices get different color bubbles? I suspect most iPhone users don’t care. Android users might but that’s not Apple’s problem.

I just explained how iPhone users have to care.