Sep 18, 2024 19:00:00

'RCS', which allows you to send high-quality images between Android and iPhone and display a mark while typing text, has finally been implemented in iOS 18, and in the future we will focus on introducing end-to-end encryption

iOS 18 , which was officially released on September 16, 2024, introduced the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, which enables the exchange of multi-functional messages between different operating systems. This makes it possible to send long messages and high-resolution photos to Android smartphones using the iPhone's original messaging app, but since end-to-end encryption between different operating systems has not yet been implemented, standardization organizations have made it clear that they will focus on end-to-end encryption in the future.

RCS Now in iOS: a New Chapter for Mobile Messaging - Newsroom
https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/article/rcs-nowin-ios-a-new-chapter-for-mobile-messaging/

RCS texts on the iPhone aren't encrypted now, but that could change - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/17/24247414/rcs-texts-iphone-e2ee-android-gsma

RCS is a standard that replaces Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and was designed to enable flexible messaging between different operating systems. It can send longer texts and larger files than SMS or MMS, and also displays read confirmation and typing indicators. Google has supported RCS since 2016, but Apple's support was delayed, and it was often seen as a problem that caused inconvenience when exchanging messages between iPhone and Android.

Tim Cook jokes that he can't send messages to his mother who has an Android phone, so he should buy her an iPhone - GIGAZINE

by iphonedigital

Following Apple's support for RCS in iOS 18, mobile communications industry association GSMA issued a welcoming statement, saying, 'We congratulate this important milestone in the evolution of messaging, which marks the culmination of years of collaboration between mobile operators, device manufacturers and technology providers.'

On the other hand, RCS has the challenge of not fully implementing end-to-end encryption between different operating systems. For example, Google has implemented end-to-end encryption for RCS between Android devices, but end-to-end encryption between Android and iPhone has not been realized. The GSMA has set solving this issue as its next goal.

Google, which is working with the GSMA to promote RCS, said in a statement: 'We're committed to providing a secure and private messaging experience for our users and will continue to work hard to make end-to-end encryption the standard for all RCS users, regardless of platform.'

In addition, online communication service Discord has announced that it will also support end-to-end encryption on September 17, 2024. According to Discord, DMs, group DMs, voice calls, and Go Live audio and video will be end-to-end encrypted.