Here’s how green bubbles are getting upgraded in iOS

Green bubbles, rejoice: your iPhone-using friends are yet going to person a overmuch amended clip texting you. As portion of iOS 18, which was released for everyone connected Monday, Apple added support for RCS, the Rich Communication Services protocol for messaging. This intends that chats betwixt iPhone and Android users will yet person a bunch of sorely needed features that should person been successful spot a agelong clip ago.

A large logic I’ve stayed connected iOS (and haven’t moreover considered switching to Android) is because iMessage conversations activity particularly good for my family group chats, and I don’t want to nerf those chats. This caller RCS support is simply a awesome measurement toward making iPhone-to-Android texts activity a batch amended (though location are still capable drawbacks that I’m readying to instrumentality pinch iOS).

RCS connected iOS improves chats pinch friends connected Android

With RCS connected iOS, you’ll get awesome improvements for illustration high-resolution media, typing indicators, and publication receipts erstwhile you’re texting pinch group connected different phones that besides support RCS. In its iOS 18 property release, Apple besides highlights support for “more reliable group messaging compared to SMS and MMS.”

RCS chats are still missing galore features Apple bakes successful for iMessage conversations, for illustration being capable to schedule messages to nonstop later aliases adhd animated matter effects to what you write. But pinch RCS support, a batch of the basics are now available. 

How do you cognize if you’re successful an RCS chat?

When you’re texting personification not connected an iPhone, return a look astatine the text-entry box. In grey letters, you’ll spot the words “Text Message,” past a dot, and past “RCS” aliases “SMS.” If you spot RCS, you’re having an RCS chat! You mightiness spot akin “RCS” aliases “SMS” indicators successful the mediate of a speech thread.

There whitethorn be, however, astatine slightest 1 catch: it seems that not each carriers support RCS connected iPhone yet. While, according to 9to5Google, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon each support the characteristic successful the US, I’m connected Mint Mobile, and alternatively of saying “RCS,” my iPhone-to-Android conversations still opportunity “SMS.” At slightest I person good-looking Tapbacks, which are disposable connected SMS. But connected the whole, SMS conversations haven’t changed, truthful if you’re forced to chat pinch your Android friends complete SMS, you’ll person to woody pinch the limitations that person been successful spot for years.

If, for immoderate reason, you want to move RCS off, you tin do that from Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging.

RCS connected iOS isn’t arsenic unafraid arsenic it could beryllium

Apple is only supporting the basal RCS standard, called RCS Universal Profile, which isn’t encrypted. That intends if you’re texting your friend who usage Google Messages, those messages won’t beryllium encrypted for illustration they are if you’re texting pinch different iPhone personification complete iMessage. 

While disappointing, it’s not excessively surprising. Apple would astir apt still for illustration that everyone bargain an iPhone. But let’s dream Apple makes RCS texts encrypted successful a early iOS release.