Apple’s iOS 18 will officially bring support for RCS messaging when it launches for the masses this fall.
While Apple brought RCS messaging to iOS 18 beta for U.S. customers, with today’s beta 3 debut, we’re now seeing RCS support in Canada.
RCS stands for Rich Communication Services and is widely used by Android devices. Support for RCS means, “richer media and delivery and read receipts for those who don’t use iMessage,” explains Apple.
Check out the screenshot below of settings in iOS 18 beta 3, shared by iPhone in Canada reader Marc (he’s a Telus customer). Notice that this is now a toggle for RCS Messaging so you can decide to turn it off if you want to:
The RCS Messaging setting says, “sending and receiving messages with RCS uses wireless data. Cellular network identifiers may be shared with your carrier and its partners.” It means you’ll be able to see ‘read receipts’ and ‘delivered’ statuses when you are texting your Android friends. For now, it looks like RCS Messaging doesn’t support group chats yet.
Apple has introduced several new features in Messages within iOS 18. Users can now schedule messages to be sent at a specified time, ensuring important messages are not forgotten or sent too late at night.
For iPhone 14 series phones and newer, satellite capabilities on these iPhones allow users to stay connected with friends and family over iMessage or SMS even without cellular or Wi-Fi service, with all messages sent over satellite being end-to-end encrypted.
Also, iMessage now supports playful, animated effects for any letter, word, phrase, or emoji, and users can send Tapbacks with any emoji or sticker, including Live Stickers made from personal photos and favourite sticker packs, which can be quickly accessed with a swipe.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve been testing RCS Messaging in iOS 18 beta 3. Are you seeing this toggle? What is your carrier? So far we’re hearing Freedom Mobile and Telus as showing the RCS Messaging toggle in iOS 18 beta 3.
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Hope they keep it green so iOS users know when it’s RCS, from a privacy/security perspective. Always best to allow users to be informed.
But, that will really trigger some of the more insecure Android user base.
apple could just use a different color entirely for rcs like a teal or purple color to indicate that. Most of us andoird camp are only really concerned about the social stigma that's come with green bubbles because it has legitimate gotten super toxic. I agree with you that there should be an easy way for iPhone to tell what messaging standard they using from a security and privacy perspective but I don't think using the same color for sms and rcs is a good idea but realistically it's just cause more confusion.
I am on Bell and my iPhone shows the RCS toggle. But the messages still only send as sms so I’m guessing Bell didn’t enable it on their side yet
I don't see it on my iPhone 15 Pro with Koodo.
I am on Fizz and do not see this option.
For now, only Bell, Telus and Videotron got the RCS option.
RCS gonna be crazy when it debuts to the masses. Here's to hoping we can still differentiate between Android and iOS users though.
It's already the case. SMS and RCS (Android) is green bubbles and iMessage is blue bubbles.
As long as they keep the battery drain under control while RCS is on.