Three decades since the first text message on cell phones was introduced to the world, another leap forward will be registered: a month after Google announced a transition from SMS to modern RCS messages that support a universal standard, Apple is also expected to announce support for RCS that will enable fast and uniform text communication between Android phones and iPhones.
For many years there has been a battle between the messaging service: despite many attempts on Google's part, there has never been a real competitor for multi-component messaging like Apple's iMessage. But recently Google pushed the new universal standard RCS, which Apple has refused to support for many years. At the end of last year, Apple hinted that it would support the new technology, and according to reports, it is expected to announce at the upcoming developers' conference in June that the new standard will go into effect as early as next fall.
So what exactly is RCS, what features does it have, and what will happen with the old SMS that is disappearing from the world? All the answers to all the questions:
What is RCS?
This is actually the future of messaging services, and in their broad name - "Rich Communication Services": Rich Communication Services. This is a protocol between cellular phone operators. The overall goal of RCS is to replace SMS and MMS messages - the formats we've all known for years. RCS messaging is very similar to WhatsApp and includes live chat options, multimedia support, all handled over a data network.
The big advantage of RCS over SMS and the reason the technology was implemented in the first place is that it improves the experience of sending SMS and MMS similar to how Apple does with iMessage. This means that RCS messages are able to carry more information so that users can send full resolution images, videos and audio opinions to each other. Read acknowledgments are also part of RCS messaging. Users can make video calls with each other directly within the messaging app instead of relying on third-party software like WhatsApp or Telegram. Indicators that show the person in front of you is typing a message are also included in the technology. RCS messages also eliminate the 160 character limit currently found in SMS messages.
Business owners can use RCS messages to send various elements such as airline boarding passes, package delivery alerts, and credit card fraud alerts.
Is RCS encrypted and secure?
Yes, the technology is flooded from end to end. This means that only the two parties corresponding with each other can see the messages, and they are secured so that they are not leaked or seen by anyone else.
Which carriers and phones support RCS?
This is an almost universal technology that, as mentioned, is expected to enter Android in the coming months, after it was launched by Google, and towards the year 2025 it will also be integrated into the iPhone devices. Apple gave in to the requirement to implement the RCS apparently following the latest pressure from the European Union which launched the Digital Markets Act. This law obliges Tim Cook's company to comply with regulatory conditions that allow app purchases to be made not only through the Apple Store, and also requires Apple to open up the possibility of communication equally with Android users.
Will Android users be able to forward RCS messages to iPhone users and vice versa?
Yes. Once Apple implements the technology in its operating system, it will be possible to send rich text messages, video files, chat conversations and many other functions in WhatsApp - also in a rich text message.
If there are messaging programs like WhatsApp and Telegram, why do you need the RCS?
The main reason is technological development. The SMS is dying out, the users hardly ever use the transmission of texts and they are mainly used to transmit annoying advertisements. While WhatsApp is free for regular users, it is expensive for business owners.
The new RCS technology is expected to enable high-quality, encrypted, cheap communication, with a variety of advanced technological developments that will be a good competition against WhatsApp and Telegram. And in the competition, the winners in the end are us, the consumers.