The blue versus green bubble debate may finally be coming to an end. Apple says that in 2024 the iPhone will add support for RCS messaging, the messaging standard used by most Android phones. according to a report by 9to5Mac.
“Late next year, we will add support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard currently published by the GSM Association,” says an Apple spokesperson. 9to5Mac. “We believe that RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience compared to SMS or MMS. “This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”
iPhones that adopt RCS could enable support for read receipts, typing indicators, high-resolution images and videos, and more when sending text messages between iPhone and Android devices, as noted 9to5Mac. Apple tells the outlet that it will also allow users to share locations in text threads.
It is not yet clear what form this new RCS message will take, but 9to5Mac Said this it’s not Apple opens iMessage to other platforms” (emphasis theirs). Instead, RCS will replace SMS and MMS and “will exist separately from iMessage when available.” Apple did not immediately respond to The edgeRequest for comments.
The change likely comes in response to regulatory pressure from the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a rule that requires large companies, such as Apple, to make their services interoperable with other platforms. In September, the European Commission opened an investigation into iMessage to determine whether it should be considered a “core platform service.” However, Apple reportedly argued that iMessage is not popular enough in Europe for the rules to apply, and are planning to file an appeal against government regulation of its App Store.
Apple may not be doing this of its own volition, but the addition of RCS is a more than welcome change, especially for all of us who have had to deal with receiving poor quality videos sent from iPhones to Android (and vice versa) . , along with a number of other missing features that make it less attractive for texting between devices.
