It’s a Big Deal If iPhones Can Support RCS Messages, But Does That Matter To Everyone?

Recently, Apple shocked everyone by announcing that it would start delivering RCS communications to iPhone users. Undoubtedly, a lot of people were thrilled to learn about the breakthrough, but Google deserves special recognition for its positive reaction to the news.

Rich Communication Services, or RCS, has been around for a while, but in recent years, Google has made the decision to acquire the platform and has invited other digital companies to support it.

Many have been asking what impact Android users’ support for RCS on iPhones starting in 2024 would have, and if this will be the iMessage competitor that many of us have been waiting for Apple to provide. This is the purpose of RCS communications, how they operate, and how they vary from iMessage.

The GSM Association (GSMA) actively promoted RCS, which was intended to be the new SMS message avatar, to all telecom providers and even phone manufacturers. But until Google made the decision to take things into its own hands and pursue more attention, the platform never received the proper attention.

Is There a Difference Between iMessage and RCS Messages?

The capabilities of RCS messaging, which includes iMessage for Android, are comparable to those of applications like WhatsApp. Rich text content, multimedia messaging, file sharing, video sharing, and picture sharing are all supported. Based on these qualities, one may argue that RCS messages serve as a reliable conduit for sharing files and multimedia between iPhone and Android users, something that isn’t feasible with iMessage or RCS.

It is said that client protocol encryption standards contribute to the security of RCS communications. It’s even claimed that RCS communications are devoid of spam. You may be asking yourself why Apple is adding RCS to iPhones because the iMessage has the same functionalities.

The primary cause is undoubtedly Apple’s continuous conflict with the European Union (EU), which has forced the corporation to switch to USB C charging for iPhones, something that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago.

In addition, the regulator is pressuring the firm to allow sideloading of apps from other shops and to enable iPhone interoperability with other platforms, such as Android, provided the company implements RCS Messages. In this manner, Apple may maintain regulatory compliance without having to allow iMessage on other platforms.

We’re interested to see how Apple intends to handle RCS communications for iPhones, but here’s the thing: RCS vs. iMessage is a topic that only matters in the US, where iPhones dominate the market. Thus, WhatsApp will remain the most significant platform for non-US markets, with billions of people depending on it, for other nations.