The split between Apple's iMessage and Google Messages has been a subject of controversy since iMessage launched in 2011. But with iOS 18, the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol is being integrated for the first time.RCS) on iOS. This means that conversations between iPhone and Android users will enjoy features like high-quality media sharing, quick reactions, voice messages, and other features that were previously exclusive to conversations within the Apple or Android ecosystem. RCS has been a standard on Android phones for a while, and Google is celebrating Apple’s acceptance of the protocol as a step in the right direction, considering it a victory for its #GetTheMessage campaign.
In this article, we review the ways RCS improves messaging between iPhone and Android, while highlighting some of the negatives that we still want to improve so that we can take full advantage of it.
How to enable RCS
On iPhone: Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging, and turn it on.
If you do not see this option, this means that your telecommunications service provider does not support this feature.
On Android: Most modern Android phones have RCS enabled by default, but to make sure, open the Google Messages app, tap your profile picture, scroll down to the Messages settings section, then tap the RCS Conversations tab to find the toggle.
Group conversations
Previously, it was possible to create a group chat between iPhone and Android users without the need for external applications such as WhatsApp, but with some major obstacles.
When a group chat was just between iPhone users, everyone enjoyed all the great features of iMessage, like voice messages, quick reactions, and Memoji stickers. But as soon as an Android user joined the group, all of those features would suddenly disappear, and the entire conversation would switch to traditional messaging (MMS) or multimedia messaging.
While the new RCS technology doesn't match all of iMessage's functionality, it does at least allow for higher-quality media and voice messages, as well as a smaller set of quick interactions.
This development has a double effect: it allows all participants in a group chat to use these modern features, and it also takes the pressure off Android users who want to join conversations that were previously limited to iPhone users only.
High quality media
Until recently, messaging between iPhones and Android phones was limited to the traditional messaging system (SMS/MMS). This system only allowed the exchange of texts, photos and videos with a maximum size of 5 MB, or video clips no longer than 30 seconds.
Imagine with me, this small file size limit was forcing applications to compress the media heavily. The result? The other party often receives blurry images and low-quality videos. For comparison, one minute of uncompressed HD (1080p) video needs about 20MB!
But the good news is that RCS supports sending files up to 105MB in size per message. This means we can now exchange high-quality photos and videos without worry.
However, it is worth noting that you may need to use file transfer services or cloud storage if you want to send larger files. But overall, this development will make the media sharing experience between iPhone and Android users more enjoyable and smooth.
Read notifications
We all get annoyed when the other person ignores responding after reading the message, and also when you don’t know that they read the message at all. This is where the read receipts feature comes in, those little signs that tell you that the recipient has seen your message, it has become a basic thing that most users take for granted.
Unfortunately, traditional text messages (SMS) and multimedia messages (MMS) lack this important feature, which you find in almost every other messaging app.
But with iOS 18 and RCS, this essential feature is finally available in cross-platform messaging. Now, whether you’re on iPhone or Android, you’ll know exactly when your message has been read. This simple change will make communication clearer and save you a lot of guesswork and worry!
Writing indicators
When using messaging apps, we often have a hard time understanding how a conversation is flowing naturally. When we look at a screen full of text, it can be difficult to know whether the other person is thinking about responding or not. This is where “typing indicators” come in.
Typing indicators are visual cues that appear on your screen when the other person is typing. They're usually moving dots inside a message bubble. This simple gesture lets you know that your friend is preparing a response, making the conversation more interactive and real.
What’s new and exciting is that the new RCS technology will make this feature available across different phones. This means you’ll be able to see these indicators whether you’re using an iPhone or Android, and regardless of the type of phone the person you’re talking to has.
With this feature, your conversations will become smoother and more natural. You will feel like you are in a real face-to-face conversation, making your phone chat experience more enjoyable and effective.
Share location
Location sharing has become a very important feature in the world of digital communication, especially for reasons of security and convenience.
Initially, services like iMessage and other apps like WhatsApp allowed users to share their locations via an interactive map. This feature was exclusive to these apps.
Now, with Apple’s new RCS support, users can share their location in regular text conversations. Imagine being able to send a “pin” that pins your location to your friend, even if they’re on a different phone than you.
While this feature isn't quite as good as the live tracking feature in iMessage or WhatsApp, where you can see where your friend is moving in real time, it's a big step in the right direction.
In short, this development means that you can now easily share your location with your friends, regardless of what type of phone they are using. This makes communicating and scheduling meetings easier and safer for everyone.
Send messages over Wi-Fi
Now, with the new RCS technology, you can connect to Wi-Fi and send messages as if you were at home! This great feature was previously limited to apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Signal. But these apps had a problem: if there was no internet, you couldn’t use them at all. Now, RCS technology combines the best of both worlds!
For comparison, iMessage was ahead of the game, supporting Wi-Fi, mobile data, and cellular for a while now. Now, these features are available to everyone, regardless of the type of phone they use.
Overall, this is a solid set of new features, but there's more Apple could do to make RCS messaging on the iPhone even better.
Disadvantages of RCS Technology
RCS messaging technology has some drawbacks that we hope will be addressed in upcoming updates.
Lack of encryption, this is dangerous
Imagine your messages like carrier pigeons, without protection! They can be monitored and intercepted. RCS already supports encryption, which means your messages are transformed into a secret code that only the recipient’s phone can understand. Unfortunately, Apple has decided to use the basic, unencrypted version of RCS, which means your messages could be intercepted, and this has upset many.
No video calls
There’s no doubt that video chat is often required, and even though RCS supports video calling, Apple decided not to add this feature. This is probably because it wants you to use FaceTime.
FaceTime has become synonymous with video calling, like we say “Google” instead of “search the Internet.” Apple wants to keep that popularity, so it lets Android users join FaceTime calls via a link, but they can’t start the call themselves.
Green bubbles remain
You know those green bubbles that appear when an Android friend sends you a message? Those bubbles are here to stay.
It may look like just a color, but it has caused a lot of controversy! In fact, a world-famous singer even sang a song about it! This hype is due to the fact that many people, especially young people, find the blue bubbles that appear to iPhone users more “stylish.”
RCS is available for all phones that support the iOS 18 update, starting with the iPhone XR and XS.
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