Some US Carriers Enable RCS Messaging Support for iOS 18 Beta 2 Users: Now Compatible with Android

In the latest release of iOS 18 Dev Beta 2, the Rich Communication Services (RCS) feature, allowing for more immersive messaging experiences, has been activated. However, the availability of this function relies on the support from mobile carriers. Users can send RCS messages on their iPhones only after their carriers have enabled this support.

A number of users with T-Mobile, one of the carriers in the United States, have noticed the RCS icon appearing in their messaging app. This indicates that at least this carrier has initiated support for RCS messaging on their network.

How to Check if RCS is Supported?

Apple has included a simple indicator for this. When composing a new message in the messaging app, the term "RCS" will appear in the text input box. Seeing this indicator means that the carrier has enabled RCS, allowing users to send messages through this service.

Currently, most Android devices in the US market support RCS messaging. Hence, iPhone users can now exchange rich media messages with Android users, including audio, video, files, location information, and more.

However, Apple has made a nuanced decision here. RCS messages continue to appear as green bubbles, similar to traditional SMS, instead of the blue bubbles used for iMessage. This color distinction has been a point of contention for Google, as it allows users to identify whether a message was sent from an iPhone or an Android device. This differentiation could potentially discourage users from switching to Android devices, especially among middle school students.

Features of RCS Messaging Include:

• Direct sending of images and videos (over the internet instead of traditional MMS)
• File sharing and sending larger files
• Audio message support, like voice recordings
• Emoji reactions to messages
• Real-time typing indicators
• Read receipts
• Group chat functionality