Key Takeaways

  • Apple's announcement to support RCS in 2024 means that Google Messages and Apple iMessage could work together, bringing rich messaging cross-platform.
  • RCS messaging allows users to send rich, verified messages with features like photos, videos, audio messages, video calls, group messages, read receipts, and typing indicators.
  • RCS messages are secure with client-to-server encryption and brand verification processes to prevent spam, and Google has implemented end-to-end encryption in Google Messages.

For many years there has been a running battle between messaging services. Despite many attempts on Google's part to launch one, there has never been a true messaging competitor to Apple's iMessage. The important thing that iMessage did was move beyond SMS, a data-based service that allowed rich messaging, rather than being restricted to character limits and text only. But SMS has been a universal standard for many years, whereas iMessage is an Apple-only service. Google, for many years has been pushing another universal standard called RCS.

The standoff has been rather public, with Google goading Apple on many occasions, with Apple refusing to support RCS for many years. Then, on 16 November 2023, Apple pivoted, saying it would support RCS in 2024. A moment of unity is coming in cross-device messaging, it seems.

But what exactly is RCS, what features does it have and which devices is it available on?

What is RCS messaging?

Rich communication services (RCS) is a protocol between both mobile operators and phones. The overall aim of RCS is for it to eventually replace SMS and MMS messaging, the formats we're all familiar with as they have been around for years.

RCS was first formed in 2007 and was taken over by the GSM Association (GSMA), the industry trade body that represents mobile operators worldwide, in 2008. In 2016, the GSMA agreed on a Universal Profile - a set of standards that all mobile operators, phone manufacturers and software providers can use to help implement RCS on devices. RCS messaging is very much like WhatsApp, where live chat can take place, including multi-media support, with everything handled via the data network.

It's seen as a rival to Apple's iMessage service, although there are some subtle differences between how these services operate.

What is RCS Messaging The messaging format set to take over your Android phone image 1
Google

What's the current status of RCS messaging?

For a number of years, RCS has been widely supported by mobile phone networks, software and devices. It's supported by the stock Google Messages app available on Android. The problem in the past has been that mobile phone networks were handed responsibility for support and few moved on it. There are probably a number of reasons for that - dropping SMS or MMS tariffs and working on cross-network functions are likely to have seen RCS as low priority.

However, in June 2019, Google took the reins back. This has seen RCS messaging supported on Android devices and using Google's servers rather than the mobile phone network's servers. Google has said, however, that if a network supports RCS, its own servers can be used for the transfer of messages.

That got the system off the ground, bringing a new messaging platform to Android users - but Google only targeted France and the UK initially. In the UK, the service went live on 28 June 2019 for some users; there was wider roll-out in the US in December 2019.

In the US the major US carriers - Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile - agreed a cross-carrier solution for RCS in a programme called CCMI - Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative and we're now in a position where RCS is globally available and interoperable, with the exception of Russia and China.

At Google I/O 2023, Google said there were over 800 million monthly RCS users - and many Android users will have become familiar with using it.

What's the deal with Apple and RCS?

For many years Apple has been under pressure to support RCS. Google has goaded Apple, with execs making statements about how RCS could make all devices work better together and more securely. Google really went to town on this as this video shows.

The problem - especially for users in the US - is that iMessage is dominant and there's been some tension around blue and green bubbles. iMessage bubbles are green, with the default SMS bubbles being blue. When a message arrives from an Android user, it's a different colour to those messages between iPhone users. There's been plenty of social commentary around this, bordering on discrimination. But that might all come to an end in 2024.

Apple's announcement that it will support RCS could mean that Google Messages and Apple iMessage could work together, so you'll have rich messaging cross-platform. Yes, this already happens with services like WhatsApp, which has benefitted from being brand agnostic and is the dominant messaging platform globally, according to Statista. Apple has suggested that it's going to work to support the GSMA Universal Profile for RCS and that support will come in 2024.

Why did Apple make this change? It's probably nothing to do with the competitive banter from Google and others and more likely to be because of increased pressure from EU rulings that messaging apps need to work together in the Digital Markets Act.

Exactly how universal the support is for RCS in iMessage, and what that experience looks like when Android messages are supported, remains to be seen.

How can I see if I have RCS support on my phone?

Firstly, if you're an Android users, you should use the Google Messages app and make sure it's the default messaging app (while other apps will support it, Google's approach means you need to use its own app).

  • Open the app and hit the menu in the top right-hand corner.
  • Select Messages settings.
  • Select RCS Chats.
  • RCS Chats will tell you if you have support or not, and if it's enabled.

When you sign into a new phone and open Google Messages for the first time, you'll be notified about RCS and you can enable it. If not, you can turn it on via the instructions above. In the same menu you'll also find other options, such as typing indicators and read receipts. Note that you need data to send RCS messages, so there's also the option to send an SMS instead if RCS messages can't be sent (which might happen if you run out of data).

What does RCS messaging do?

The biggest advantage RCS Messaging has over SMS - and the reason it was implemented in the first place - is that it enables users to send rich, verified messages. This means messages will be able to carry more information, so users can send things like photos, videos and audio messages to one another.

They will be able to carry out video calls with one another from directly within the messaging app, rather than having to rely on third-party software. Group messages are possible, and little things such as read receipts and indicators to show other users are typing a message will be included as well. RCS messages will also do away with the 160 character limit currently found in SMS messages.

Businesses will be able to use RCS Messaging to send things like boarding passes for airlines, package delivery notifications and credit card fraud alerts.

They're features that Apple iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger have offered for some time, but Android phones have gone without in a default messaging application. For many, having one app to handle everything will be key.

Are RCS messages secure?

RCS messages rely on data in order to be sent between users, and so messages are sent with client-to-server encryption. The protocol should also prevent spam messages from reaching your device, as for a company to be able to send a message via RCS, they have to go through a brand verification process. RCS messages received from companies will have the company's name in the sender info, rather than just a mobile phone number - so it's in a better position than SMS.

Following the discovery of code relating to end-to-end encryption in an unreleased version of Google Messages it was clear that Google was planning to make this move and it went into beta in November 2020. From June 2021, end-to-end encryption is now part of RCS Chat in Google Messages. To verify if you're sending an encrypted message, just look for the lock next to the send arrow in the messaging app.

What is RCS messaging? The new Android texting service explained photo 1
Pocket-lint

Who is supporting RCS Messaging?

Many companies, including operators, manufacturers and software providers have pledged their support for RCS Messaging, but by far and away the biggest supporter is Google. The technology giant has been trying to increase the adoption of RCS messaging in recent years, as it wants to implement it in all Android phones. Google is rolling out the new features afforded by RCS as "chat" and it is part the existing Android Messages app - alongside SMS and MMS.

While the app on Android phones is now widespread - you can download it from Google Play - the rate of adoption and success of RCS messaging depends on the mobile operators. At the moment there are variations of the RCS protocol, so phones using RCS on some networks aren't supported elsewhere. It's these interoperability issues that the GSM Association's Universal Profile aims to eliminate and something that Google has tackled.

If you send an RCS message to someone who's phone or mobile network don't support it, it will be sent as a regular text message, but a lot of work is underway to resolve that. For example, Google and Samsung have been collaborating to ensure that respective RCS apps work together through Android Messages and Samsung Messages. RCS messaging is working smoothly for users of Android, but the addition of Apple to the RCS fold in 2024 will be interesting. Exactly how closely the two experiences will match up remains to be seen, but certainly there's a thaw coming in the messaging war that's been raging for a number of years.