Google has “by chance” dropped a clue on its Android web site that means Apple would possibly shifting to implement their promised RCS implementation this fall in keeping with a report from 9to5 Google. Whereas the information that Apple is bringing RCS to iMessage isn’t new, per se, lastly having a date hooked up to the hassle offers us a minimum of a firmer timeline for this to truly occur.
For these unaware, RCS is mainly the next-gen alternative for MMS/SMS texting. It brings options we’ve had on messaging apps for ages like learn receipts, typing indicators, high-quality photographs and movies, higher group chats, and even end-to-end encryption – all instantly inside your default texting app. That app on the Android facet of issues is Google Messages, and Google’s been trumpeting this modernized messaging platform for years at this level.
Up till lately, Apple has refused to play good with RCS on iMessage, selecting to stay with SMS/MMS because the backup for messages that arrive from non-Apple telephones. That is what creates the irritating expertise the place messages between iPhones (iMessage IMs to be particular) are an incredible expertise, however messages despatched to and from Android units get downgraded to the decades-old SMS protocol.
iMessage RCS in Fall 2024
For a number of causes that the majority undoubtedly embrace stress from the EU, Apple lastly gave in and acknowledged on the finish of 2023 that they might lastly add RCS (a messaging customary similar to e mail, telephone calls, and old-school SMS) to iMessage sooner or later in 2024. Now we’d have a firmer timeline.
In response to Google’s Android web site (in a bit that has since been eliminated), Apple apparently has agreed to RCS adoption set to occur within the fall of 2024: seemingly coming to iOS 18. Whereas the part of the web site 9to5 Google grabbed screenshots of is now gone, Tech Crunch did confirm that the wording within the now-deleted part continues to be current within the supply code.
So, mark your calendars for fall after we’ll lastly have a more-unified messaging possibility between Android and iPhone through our built-in textual content apps. The blue/inexperienced bubble stigma in all probability gained’t totally disappear, however this alteration shall be large for total smoother communication for everybody. No extra blurry movies or photographs despatched from Android to iPhones, group chats ought to really work correctly, and easy issues like read-receipts will make this foolish concern have far much less weight sooner or later. It’s a long-overdue transfer, and smartphones throughout the board shall be higher for it.