Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

RCS Messaging in iOS 18: What iPhone Users Need to Know

Unregistered 4U said:
It’s good that it finally came around due to the Chinese carriers making it a viable thing, but we’ve all seen what Google does with messaging platforms. I’d hope that the US carriers negotiated a specific level of service, but we’ll see what happens if Alphabet has a few bad quarters and needs to cut back on some of their less profitable ventures again.
Click to expand...
Lots of carriers are paying Google to use Jibe for RCS. Hosting services are a big money maker for tech companies like Google, Amazon and Microsoft. Claiming hosting services are not very profitable without any data to back that up means you’re just making stuff up.

I don’t understand why there is a handful of people around here that will never use RCS so upset it‘s being implemented. It’s a done deal. Apple isn’t going to come on this forum and read your posts and say, “OMG! We made a serious blunder! Cancel this feature now!” If RCS upsets you so much, just turn it off and forget about it. For those of us that want and need the feature, it’s a huge improvement over SMS/MMS. If you prefer WhatsApp or any other 3rd party solution, that’s great. I don’t really care what you use to message people, but you are sure upset many of us especially in the U.S. will be using RCS to message across stock iPhone and Android messaging apps.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: gusmula, TimFL1, PoitNarf and 4 others
Downhilltenago said:
Can someone detail explain like I’m 5 years old the negative of this?
Click to expand...
There is no negative. The only people complaining about it are upset that Apple gave in and now messaging will work much better between iPhones and Android phones when using the stock default texting apps. Why that’s so upsetting, I have no idea.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ludatyk, spinedoc77, iMac The Knife and 3 others
TimFL1 said:
You can turn off MMS in settings. Other than that, you have to keep an eye out for SMS downgrades (e.g. spotty data connection). Apple so far refuses to add a setting to stop automatic conversation downgrades to SMS, with RCS looking identical to SMS (bar the small RCS placeholder in the text input box), you‘re at risk of accidentally sending SMS cross borders.

I‘ve submitted a feedback suggestion in the Feedback app to add a toggle for SMS fallback in the RCS settings, reasoning that SMS is often tied to fees (especially internationally) and requested they add the toggle to also comply with the Universal Profile, which has that as one of the user stories tied to SMS cross-over.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your info.
useful for me to understand the way apple's implementation of RCS might be, factoring in possible charges that result in the case where the media containing apple Message might not go through as RCS and instead defaults to whatever parameters i have set in Messages, or, whatever apple ends up allowing us to set, for those networks that still charge for MMS (and SMS) types of messages.

but you mention a setting to turn off MSS. i dont see that in my Message settings on my iPhone.
i do distinctly recall seeing that a few years ago, but not right now i only see a user settable setting to default to send as SMS or not. the MMS related settings in Messages relate to what kind of data would also be sent along the MMS file itself. such as whether a subject field is needed, not whether or not you allow MMS to be sent or not.
 
Last edited:
nottorp said:
Messages? It's been said here already but let me repeat it:

The whole world has moved on and uses WhatsApp or other cross platform chat apps that are popular in their region. Except the US who cares about the colour of bubbles.
Click to expand...
Then you're not really paying attention: I am comparing iMessage to Google Messages. If you only use WhatsApp, then bully for you. I use WhatsApp for about half my messaging (mostly for friends/family overseas or for messaging iPhone users because their crappy iMessages app keeps blurring photos). But I also receive SMS messages from doctors, bank notifications, etc.

Regardless of your phone platform, I sincerely doubt that you never receive SMS text messages -- even if it's just for 2FA -- and when you do, you're using a carrier-based messaging protocol.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: DakotaGuy
Unregistered 4U said:
They’ll do it if and when China mandates it and not a moment before. And, considering the government in China, I doubt China’s carriers will agree to will mandate it.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree. But my point is that Apple could have built encryption into their implementation of RCS if they wanted to (just as Google did), and that both Google and Apple could have (well, if they stopped their pissing contest long enough) collaborated on platform-agnostic encryption for RCS chats across the Apple/Google divide.
 
Downhilltenago said:
Can someone detail explain like I’m 5 years old the negative of this?
Click to expand...
It's like the idea of Zelenski and Putin sitting at a café . . .

. . . Putin orders tea, and Zelenski orders an espresso.

The peeps at the other tables are aghast at the disparity, insisting to their table-partners that the two will each aim punches, and flee.

Meanwhile; Putin is enjoying his tea, and Zelenski is enjoying his espresso....
 
  • Wow
Reactions: gusmula
WarmWinterHat said:
Neither Google nor the EU has anything to do with this. China requires all 5g-capable phones to support RCS, and I'm thrilled that's it's coming.
Click to expand...
Have you not been paying attention the last few years as Google has bitched constantly about Apple not implementing rcs nor the EU's strong-arming legislation forcing Apple to adopt a lesser standard to please green bubbles?

Nobody said anything about China
 
Naraxus said:
Have you not been paying attention the last few years as Google has bitched constantly about Apple not implementing rcs nor the EU's strong-arming legislation forcing Apple to adopt a lesser standard to please green bubbles?

Nobody said anything about China
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t be surprised if the carriers at least in the U.S. also pushed a bit. The less SMS/MMS traffic they have to handle the better.
 
Jon N. said:
I don't disagree. But my point is that Apple could have built encryption into their implementation of RCS if they wanted to (just as Google did), and that both Google and Apple could have (well, if they stopped their pissing contest long enough) collaborated on platform-agnostic encryption for RCS chats across the Apple/Google divide.
Click to expand...
MLS may very well be the path forward for RCS E2EE across platforms. We‘ll just have to wait and see. Even without E2EE you’re way more secure with encrypted in transit RCS vs plain text all the way SMS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jon N. and TimFL1
arc of the universe said:
Thanks for your info.
useful for me to understand the way apple's implementation of RCS might be, factoring in possible charges that result in the case where the media containing apple Message might not go through as RCS and instead defaults to whatever parameters i have set in Messages, or, whatever apple ends up allowing us to set, for those networks that still charge for MMS (and SMS) types of messages.

but you mention a setting to turn off MSS. i dont see that in my Message settings on my iPhone.
i do distinctly recall seeing that a few years ago, but not right now i only see a user settable setting to default to send as SMS or not. the MMS related settings in Messages relate to what kind of data would also be sent along the MMS file itself. such as whether a subject field is needed, not whether or not you allow MMS to be sent or not.
Click to expand...
If the MMS toggle is missing, your carrier probably ended support for MMS altogether. What carrier / country, if I may ask? For example, loads of the big carriers in germany killed off MMS in 2023/2024.
Jon N. said:
Then you're not really paying attention: I am comparing iMessage to Google Messages. If you only use WhatsApp, then bully for you. I use WhatsApp for about half my messaging (mostly for friends/family overseas or for messaging iPhone users because their crappy iMessages app keeps blurring photos). But I also receive SMS messages from doctors, bank notifications, etc.

Regardless of your phone platform, I sincerely doubt that you never receive SMS text messages -- even if it's just for 2FA -- and when you do, you're using a carrier-based messaging protocol.
Click to expand...
I never receive SMS, it‘s not out of the norm. Anyone with a bit of tech knowledge switched to other forms of 2FA half a decade ago.
Naraxus said:
Have you not been paying attention the last few years as Google has bitched constantly about Apple not implementing rcs nor the EU's strong-arming legislation forcing Apple to adopt a lesser standard to please green bubbles?

Nobody said anything about China
Click to expand...
None of that mattered to Apples bottom line. China telling them "RCS or no sales" is what caused them to act, has been discussed and reported pretty in-depth on here.

The EU had nothing to do with this (iMessage was not labeled a gatekeeper), RCS also isn‘t iMessage. If at all, the EU wants interoperability between iMessage and the rest, so that your chat app or choice can text you in the iMessage ecosystem (not RCS or SMS).
 
  • Love
Reactions: arc of the universe
splifingate said:
It's like the idea of Zelenski and Putin sitting at a café . . .

. . . Putin orders tea, and Zelenski orders an espresso.

The peeps at the other tables are aghast at the disparity, insisting to their table-partners that the two will each aim punches, and flee.

Meanwhile; Putin is enjoying his tea, and Zelenski is enjoying his espresso....
Click to expand...
Not into politics and that totally lost me. Sports analogy?
 
DakotaGuy said:
There is no negative. The only people complaining about it are upset that Apple gave in and now messaging will work much better between iPhones and Android phones when using the stock default texting apps. Why that’s so upsetting, I have no idea.
Click to expand...
That’s what I thought but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something. Very sad indeed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DakotaGuy
arc of the universe said:
but you mention a setting to turn off MSS. i dont see that in my Message settings on my iPhone.
i do distinctly recall seeing that a few years ago, but not right now i only see a user settable setting to default to send as SMS or not. the MMS related settings in Messages relate to what kind of data would also be sent along the MMS file itself. such as whether a subject field is needed, not whether or not you allow MMS to be sent or not.
Click to expand...
Have you scrolled down? On my iPhone, the MMS toggle is below SMS toggle. See screen grab below.

For the record. I'm on Telus in Canada, where MMS is fully supported. What carrier are you on?

IMG_4223.PNG
 
TimFL1 said:
If the MMS toggle is missing, your carrier probably ended support for MMS altogether. What carrier / country, if I may ask? For example, loads of the big carriers in germany killed off MMS in 2023/2024.

I never receive SMS, it‘s not out of the norm. Anyone with a bit of tech knowledge switched to other forms of 2FA half a decade ago.

None of that mattered to Apples bottom line. China telling them "RCS or no sales" is what caused them to act, has been discussed and reported pretty in-depth on here.

The EU had nothing to do with this (iMessage was not labeled a gatekeeper), RCS also isn‘t iMessage. If at all, the EU wants interoperability between iMessage and the rest, so that your chat app or choice can text you in the iMessage ecosystem (not RCS or SMS).
Click to expand...
thanks TimFL1
im on docomo japan's ahamo service.
and, yes, one of the "features" of this service is that they stopped what is known here in japan as " mobile email" (that's a translation of the words in japanese). its basically a term for MSS.
one of the ways that mobile carriers here in japan keep customers is that (for a long time) they didn't allow MMS to be sent to other carriers even. they were told by the government to allow that, and they finally did allow MMS inter-carrier.
but in my docomo sub-brand, they dont provide that service at all, and that's way, as you suggest i dont even see the MMS toggle at all in my settings. in order to be able to use MMS, you need to stay with the main brand of docomo (or other major carrier), and that comes at a higher monthly cost.
thanks i appreciate your help

an interesting aside about MMS in japan: i did some volunteer IT work for a group of senior citizen residents last year. the only email addresses they had were carrier issued "mobile email" (MSS) email addresses. i wasn't able to get any of them to switch to something like apple's Messages app (even though many of them were even using iPhones). this is because almost all of their friends communicate with each other via that MSS email address. its a real common situation here in japan even now.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: EugW
spinedoc77 said:
Maybe if Whatsapp was installed and the default for text messaging this might have made sense. Things unfolded differently outside of the US where text messaging was expensive so consumers were forced to seek alternatives.
Click to expand...

I don't remember installing whatsapp because text messaging was expensive. I remember installing it to be able to -ing finally send photos and documents in a way that just works, have decent group chats etc.

It wasn't even free or owned by Meta, I remember paying something for whatsapp after the first year. They had some kind of business model where the user pays before selling out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Unregistered 4U and JustSomebody12
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back