Apple will offer RCS support starting in 2024

The gap between the green bubble and the blue bubble may shrink soon. 9to5Mac Apple has reportedly confirmed that it will support the RCS messaging standard it has long avoided. This doesn’t mean that messages from Android devices will no longer appear in green in Apple’s Messages app. This means that text messages from iPhones to non-iOS devices will support the newer Rich Communications Services protocol, meaning they won’t have to go through the old SMS (and MMS) system. In the provided statement, Apple said: “We believe RCS Universal Profile will provide a better interoperability experience compared to SMS or MMS.”

This support will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users. With new features like voice memo transcription and check-in that aren’t available on RCS, iMessage can still outperform the default text messaging apps on Android. It also means that there may not be a change in any of the chat bubble colors.

Google has been around for a long time Captured In Apple’s Does not support RCS, saying that the texting experience between iPhones and non-iPhones is so outdated that it’s also possible to use a pager. With RCS support, messages between Android and iOS devices will be more secure (than SMS), while media can be shared at a higher quality.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Google said it was happy to see Apple’s support for RCS. “We welcome Apple’s participation in our ongoing work with the GSMA to advance RCS and make messaging more fair and secure, and we look forward to working with them to implement this on iOS in a way that works for everyone,” Google said. to publish On X.

A GSMA spokesperson told Engadget earlier this year that the RCS Universal Profile (UP) “provides the industry with an open, consistent, and universal messaging service across networks and devices. It simplifies interoperability, enables OEMs and operating system providers to achieve scale, and gives consumers the opportunity to experience… Richer, more consistent messaging regardless of device or network.”

It’s not yet clear exactly when Apple plans to enable RCS UP support, though the statement said “later next year.” Today’s announcement comes on the date that is the deadline for companies to file appeals before the General Court of the European Union. Apple is He is reportedly looking forward to the challenge The European Union’s decision to place the entire App Store on the digital antitrust list under the Digital Markets Act.

In September, Apple launched the iPhone 15 series, the company’s first phones to come with USB-C charging ports instead of Lightning. This week we also saw news of the release of the Qi 2 wireless charging standard with the new iPhones among the first devices available compatible with the updated protocols.

Whether it’s due to EU regulations or other motives, Apple is clearly opening up parts of its walled garden to play well with other devices. And maybe, just maybe, you won’t have to “buy your mom an iPhone.”

Updated November 16, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET: This story has been updated with a statement from Google.