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

In November, Apple announced that the iPhone would support the cross-platform messaging standard RCS (Rich Communication Services) in the Messages app starting "later" in 2024, and Google has now revealed a more narrow timeframe.

General Apps Messages
In a since-deleted section of the revamped Google Messages web page, spotted by 9to5Google, Google said that Apple would be adopting RCS on the iPhone in the "fall of 2024." This timeframe suggests that RCS support will be added to the iPhone with iOS 18, which should be available in beta in June and released in September. At the latest, support should be added in iOS 18.1, which is likely to be released in October.

Google RCS iOS Late 2024
RCS support should result in the following improvements in the Messages app for conversations between iPhones and Android smartphones:

  • Higher-resolution photos and videos
  • Audio messages
  • Typing indicators
  • Read receipts
  • Wi-Fi messaging
  • Improved group chats, including the ability for iPhone users to leave a conversation that includes Android users

These modern features are already available for iMessage, and in many third-party messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram. RCS support on the iPhone will extend the features to green bubbles in the Messages app.

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Top Rated Comments

Scotty2Hotty Avatar
17 months ago
A welcome change. We've all gotta move away from SMS.
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
17 months ago
It’s sad that sites like The Verge and WSJ turned this into a green bubble social status thing for clicks instead of explaining what the actual issue is. This notion that teens have social anxiety because they show up as a green bubble on their friends phone is ridiculous. But annoyance because their group chat experience isn’t as good? That’s legit. I’m glad Apple is going to make that experience better.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brofkand Avatar
17 months ago
Years late but better late than never.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stromos Avatar
17 months ago

Means nothing to me. I'm Android-free. I don't know a single person I talk to that uses an Android.
? I needed to know this. Thanks.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Iconoclysm Avatar
17 months ago

Sounds like it will be RCS support but not full RCS functionality.
Even without E2EE it is positive step.
Apple will be looking to standardize an E2EE solution rather than use Google's proprietary extensions. Really, Google is making this about themselves right now when it needs to be about an open standard.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kemal Avatar
17 months ago
I still want to punish Android users.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)