The gap between the green bubble and the blue bubble may narrow soon. 9 to 5 Mac Apple has reportedly confirmed that it will support the RCS messaging standard, which it has long avoided. This does not mean that messages from Android devices will no longer show green in Apple’s Messages app. This means that text messages from iPhones to non-iOS devices support the new Rich Communication Service protocol, meaning they don’t have to go through the old SMS (and MMS) system. In a statement, Apple said: “We believe that the RCS Universal Profile will provide better interoperability than SMS or MMS.”
This support will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best, most secure messaging experience for Apple users. With new features like voice note transcription and check-in not available in RCS, iMessage can still outperform standard SMS apps on Android. This means that the color of the chat bubble may not change.
Google has been around for a long time caught at apple Does not support RCS, that the texting experience between iPhones and non-iPhones is so old that it’s possible to use a pager. With RCS support, messages between Android and iOS devices become more secure (from SMS) allowing high-quality media sharing.
In a statement released Thursday, Google said it was pleased with Apple’s support for RCS. “We welcome Apple’s participation in our ongoing work with the GSMA to advance RCS and make messaging fairer and safer, and we look forward to working with Google to implement it on iOS in a way that works for everyone,” said Google. disclosure In X
A GSMA spokesperson told Engadget earlier this year that the RCS Universal Profile (UP) “provides the industry with an open, consistent and universal messaging service across networks and devices. It simplifies interoperability, enables OEMs and operating system providers to achieve scale, and empowers customers to have a richer, more consistent messaging experience regardless of device or network.”
It’s still unclear when Apple plans to enable RCS UP support, though the statement says “later next year.” Today’s announcement comes on the same day that companies have a deadline to appeal to the General Court of the European Union apple is He is said to be looking forward to the challenge The European Union has decided to place the entire App Store on the digital antitrust list under the Digital Markets Act.
In September, Apple launched the iPhone 15 series, the company’s first phone with a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning. This week we also saw news of the release of the Qi 2 wireless charging standard, with the new iPhones among the first devices available to be compatible with the updated protocols.
Whether due to EU regulations or other motives, Apple is clearly opening up parts of its walled garden to play nice with other devices. And maybe, just maybe, you don’t have to buy your mom an iPhone.
Updated November 16, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET: This story has been updated with a statement from Google.