Unicode Proposes Regional Emoji Flags for Next Year

The Unicode Consortium has announced a proposed update to its emoji documentation that provides support for regional flag emojis.

As noted by Emojipedia, the new functionality and guidelines would allow for Apple and other vendors to implement emojis for regions such as U.S. states, Canadian provinces and territories, or countries of the United Kingdom.

Flags representing California or Texas, for example, or England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, could be added in a future iOS update.

The Unicode Consortium stopped short of recommending specific flags for vendors to support, and it said there is no requirement that any of the regional flags be supported. In other words, Apple in particular would be free to choose which regional flags to add to its iOS and macOS platforms if any.

Emojipedia said the Emoji 5.0 update is likely to be released in the first half of 2017, although an official date has not been specified. The proposed update is currently available for public review and feedback until January 16, 2017.

Some apps such as WhatsApp have already worked around the existing Unicode standards to support flags for England, Scotland, Wales, and other regions.

Tags: emoji, Unicode Consortium

Top Rated Comments

countryside

55 months ago

Yes! Gimme that Texas flag! I hate using the Texas flag look alike...

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

pdoobs

55 months ago

We need a reimagining of the emoji keyboard like 3 years ago. Or maybe a better way to organize frequently used emoji.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

coolfactor

55 months ago

Soon, we'll all be writing in hieroglyphics .... I mean ... emojiglyphics. Everything in the universe is cyclic. Is this the full-circle on the written word back to pictographics?

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Flash SWT

55 months ago

Yes! Gimme that Texas flag! I hate using the Texas flag look alike...

Texas flag represent! :D

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

-BigMac-

55 months ago

Least exciting news all year

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

DrumApple

55 months ago

STOP already, I already can't scroll through all of the unnecessary ones

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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