Apple is finally bringing the RCS messaging standard to the iPhone

Apple has finally decided to bring support for the RCS messaging standard to the iPhone. Apple officially announced today that it will use this standard in iPhones. This feature will be released in late 2024 through a software update and will provide iMessage-like features for messaging between iPhone and Android users.

Apple takes this decision because of the pressure of European regulators and competitors like Google and Samsung. The RCS standard has developed a lot over the years and has become more mature than before. An Apple spokesperson said the company believes RCS will enable better interoperability for messaging between iPhone and Android.

Despite the adoption of the RCS standard by Apple, iMessage will continue to function and be used as a messaging platform between iPhone users. Instead, RCS will replace SMS and MMS and remain separate from iMessage.

Paul still thinks iMessage is much more secure than RCS. According to Apple, RCS does not currently support end-to-end encryption as well as iMessage. As mentioned, Apple’s decision to adopt RCS was due to pressure from companies such as Samsung and Google. Apple has so far resisted these pressures.

Apple has now said it is working with the GSMA to further improve the RCS standard, which will include improving the security and encryption of RCS messages.