No More Green Bubble? RCS Messaging Support Coming To iPhones In 2024

[RAMROD 117,032]

Apple says, in 2024, the iPhone will add support for RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging, the messaging standard used by most Android phones, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

“Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association,” an Apple spokesperson tells 9to5Mac. “We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when 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.”

The iPhone adopting RCS could enable support for read receipts, typing indicators, high-res images and videos, and more, when sending texts between iPhone and Android devices, as noted by 9to5Mac. Apple tells the outlet it will let users share locations in text threads as well.

It’s still not clear what form this new RCS messaging will take, but 9to5Mac says “this is not Apple opening up iMessage to other platforms” (emphasis theirs). RCS will instead replace SMS and MMS and “exist separately from iMessage when available.” Apple didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

The change likely comes in response to regulatory pressure from the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a rule that requires major companies, such as Apple, to make their services interoperable with other platforms. In September, the European Commission opened up an investigation into iMessage to determine whether it should be considered a “core platform service.” However, Apple reportedly argued iMessage isn’t popular enough in Europe for the rules to apply, and it’s planning to file an appeal against the government’s regulation of its App Store.

Companies like Google and Samsung have long pushed for Apple to add support for RCS with splashy marketing campaigns and videos. (Google and Samsung didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.) Earlier this month, Google sent a letter to the European Commission that argues iMessage should be considered a core platform service under the DMA. Even Nothing, the phone company owned by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, decided to hit back at Apple by bringing iMessage-style messaging to its Android phones.

Apple may not be doing this out of its own willingness, but the addition of RCS is a more than welcome change 

https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/16/23964171/apple-iphone-rcs-support

[homomo 23,883]

Europe is basically Apple’s parent trying to get their child under control at this point

[Pablo 8,581]

Does this mean we'll see less iphone users complaining about android users being in group chats? They always made it seem like it was the end of the world.

[SharkmanthaC 115,045]

[Petie Estie 5,705]

43 minutes ago, Pablo said:

Does this mean we'll see less iphone users complaining about android users being in group chats? They always made it seem like it was the end of the world.

there could be more features, but the RCS standard isn't going to implement new little stickers or whatever features apple invents for their platform. So it'll still be missing some stuff. I think it'll still be green bubbled android people too. It's just less bad. 

[holy scheisse 22,907]

52 minutes ago, Pablo said:

Does this mean we'll see less iphone users complaining about android users being in group chats? They always made it seem like it was the end of the world.

To be fair it is annoying 

[Pandauralife 988]

1 hour ago, holy scheisse said:

To be fair it is annoying 

The discrimination stops here 

[PartySick 172,513]

2 hours ago, holy scheisse said:

To be fair it is annoying 

As an android user in several group chats, what's annoying?

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Pablo said:

Does this mean we'll see less iphone users complaining about android users being in group chats? They always made it seem like it was the end of the world.

Probably not. I’m sure those same people will be complaining just over the green text bubbles instead of blue. That’s really what the average complaint is considering most people do not have the technical literacy to understand this. 

[holy scheisse 22,907]

22 minutes ago, PartySick said:

As an android user in several group chats, what's annoying?

The most annoying this is trying to send videos in the group chat— it like shrinks it and distorts the quality so badly!

it’s also annoying that you can’t leave a group chat If an android member is in it like you could if everyone was using iMessage 

Also the way it sends texts when ppl “react” to messages where it’s like “laughed at “as an android user in several groups chats, what’s annoying?” Or “loved an image” Instead of the cute little HA react emoji on the message or heart emoji on the picture

Also the green bubbles just aren’t cute I cannot explain myself 

[PartySick 172,513]

6 minutes ago, holy scheisse said:

The most annoying this is trying to send videos in the group chat— it like shrinks it and distorts the quality so badly!

it’s also annoying that you can’t leave a group chat If an android member is in it like you could if everyone was using iMessage 

Also the way it sends texts when ppl “react” to messages where it’s like “laughed at “as an android user in several groups chats, what’s annoying?” Or “loved an image” Instead of the cute little HA react emoji on the message or heart emoji on the picture

Also the green bubbles just aren’t cute I cannot explain myself 

Oh wait, I just realized I have no idea what this thread is about

Ignore me, Apple queen