A Glimpse at iPhone RCS Support: promising yet incomplete

Key Points:

• Apple’s upcoming RCS support for iPhone shows progress, enabling features like file transfers and delivery receipts.
• Crucial features like read receipts, message reactions, and end-to-end encryption are missing in the early version.
• The wait for public testing and potential limitations suggest further development is needed before a smooth experience.

For years, Android users texting iPhones faced limitations due to the lack of RCS support on Apple devices. This resulted in frustration, with features like high-resolution photo sharing unavailable. Finally, in late 2023, Apple announced it would integrate RCS with iOS 18. While not officially available yet, a user managed to activate a hidden functionality in the iOS 18 beta, offering a sneak peek at Apple’s progress.

Promising Features Emerge

The leaked screenshots reveal that Apple’s RCS implementation will introduce functionalities long desired by users. These include delivery receipts, confirming a message has been sent, and the ability to transfer files, potentially including high-resolution images. This signifies a significant improvement over the current SMS/MMS limitations.

Missing Pieces Remain

However, the initial version appears to lack some key features that could hinder the user experience. Notably, read receipts, which indicate whether a message has been read, are currently absent for iPhone users in group chats. Additionally, the functionality does not seem to include the ability to react to messages with emojis, a common feature in many messaging platforms.

Security Concerns Linger

Perhaps the most concerning aspect is the apparent lack of end-to-end encryption for messages exchanged between Android and iPhone users. End-to-end encryption scrambles messages, ensuring only the sender and recipient can access them. Its absence raises security concerns, especially for sensitive information.

The Road Ahead

With the expected release of iOS 18 this fall, RCS support is anticipated to go live for the general public. However, these leaked screenshots suggest there might be a wait before it becomes available for testing in the iOS 18 beta program. This implies Apple is still working on refining the features and addressing the security aspects.

Overall, while the inclusion of RCS in iOS 18 represents a positive step towards improved interoperability, the early glimpse reveals functionalities are not yet fully developed. Addressing missing features and ensuring security will be crucial for a seamless user experience.