The latest iOS 18 beta for developers has sparked excitement with the discovery of a toggle for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging. This feature promises to bridge the gap between Apple’s iMessage and messaging apps on Android devices. However, it’s important to understand that RCS functionality currently depends on your mobile carrier.
RCS offers several advantages over traditional SMS texting. Users can expect features like improved image and video quality, read receipts, and potentially higher-quality voice calls when communicating between iPhones and Androids. With iOS 18, iPhone users might finally be able to see delivery notifications and receive media files without compression.
Limited Availability for Now, Wider Support Expected Soon
While the RCS toggle appears in iOS 18 beta, it doesn’t guarantee functionality. Currently, only a select few carriers in the US, like T-Mobile and AT&T, support RCS for iPhones. Apple has assured users that RCS messaging will be available in the final version of iOS 18 this year. However, its success hinges on broader adoption by mobile carriers, notes NIXsolutions. We expect compatibility to become more widespread by the official iOS 18 release.
Stay tuned for updates! We’ll continue to monitor the development of RCS messaging on iOS 18 and provide updates as they become available.