Apple confirmed in the course of the WWDC 2024 fundamental keynote what many individuals had suspected: iOS 18 will deliver official RCS assist to the iPhone. Many Android customers have needed this function for years, which is why Google and different rivals have been working large advert campaigns in opposition to Apple.
Apple didn’t say when it’ll allow RCS on iPhone. Most individuals working iOS 18 beta 1 didn’t see RCS assist within the Messages app. I put in iOS 18 as quickly because it got here out, and my textual content messages to non-iPhone customers are nonetheless marked as SMS. Apparently, nevertheless, some customers have discovered a technique to allow RCS assist on iPhone in iOS 18. Because of this, we now have our first take a look at Apple’s RCS implementation on the iPhone.
Google’s marketing campaign may appear to have been profitable, however Apple was all the time going to deliver RCS assist to the iPhone. Latest findings have proven that new legal guidelines in China require RCS assist from all telephones bought within the area.
Nonetheless, Apple is not going to assist Google’s model of RCS in iOS 18. It’ll persist with the service commonplace, which suggests a few of the options Google affords in its RCS implementation is not going to be accessible in iPhone-to-Android chats.
The way in which Apple dealt with RCS assist in its WWDC supplies reveals that Cupertino doesn’t prioritize the usual. Apple is simply including RCS assist to the iPhone as a result of it has to.
What RCS can do in iOS 18 beta 1
What I’m getting at is that it is sensible for Apple to delay RCS assist till the ultimate iOS 18 model rolls out or a extra secure iOS 18 launch. I’m stunned an X consumer discovered find out how to allow the function on an iPhone working iOS 18 beta 1.
Dhinak G posted photographs on X that present RCS engaged on an iPhone. Both that or the screenshots have been faked, which is one thing we all the time have to bear in mind when taking a look at leaks.
Assuming the data is official, we’re taking a look at what you’d anticipate from the RCS expertise. The bubbles will stay inexperienced, however messages are marked as being despatched by way of the RCS commonplace. You get learn receipts, typing assist, and emoji reactions to messages. File transfers additionally appear to work in RCS on iPhone.
Additionally, RCS seems to be working in group chats, however there’s no assist for learn receipts.
The X customers additionally famous that RCS messages are disabled by default in iOS 18 beta 1 and require some “particular magic” to work. When enabled, you’ll have one other setting choice within the Settings app to allow RCS Messaging.
