Apple has lastly added help for Wealthy Communication Providers (RCS) to its Messages app. The function arrived as a part of the second developer beta of iOS 18 earlier this week.
RCS is a messaging protocol that makes use of the web to allow you to ship and obtain recordsdata and high-quality pictures, see typing indicators, get learn receipts, begin group chats and extra. Till now, iPhone customers may solely ship SMS or MMS messages from the Messages app to individuals who didn’t have an Apple gadget — you could possibly share media, get learn receipts and use different options solely with different Apple gadget customers through iMessage. With this replace, iPhone customers can begin texting and sharing recordsdata with anybody who makes use of a tool that helps RCS, which incorporates most Android telephones.
Nevertheless, messages from Android units will nonetheless present up as inexperienced bubbles in iMessage.
Help for RCS appears to be restricted to U.S. carriers like T-Cellular, AT&T and Verizon for now. Whereas customers can see the toggle if they’ve put in the iOS 18 developer beta, the function will solely work if their cell service helps RCS and has up to date their community bundle for iOS 18. We’ll replace this story after we hear of the protocol being supported in different areas.
Apple briefly talked about that iOS 18 would get RCS help throughout its Worldwide Developer Convention (WWDC) keynote earlier this month.
“When messaging contacts who would not have an Apple gadget, the Messages app now helps RCS for richer media and extra dependable group messaging in comparison with SMS and MMS,” Apple mentioned in its press launch detailing iOS 18.
iPhone and Android customers alike have been asking Apple to help RCS for ages, because it makes it simpler to message and share issues with individuals no matter what gadget they use. Google has additionally been pushing Apple to interrupt the blue and inexperienced bubble divide for years.
The developer beta additionally introduced the power to reflect iPhones on Mac shows.
