Google has hinted that Apple may finally be adding support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) this fall. The tech giant briefly displayed information on their Google Messages page, suggesting that the iPhone maker may extend RCS support with the upcoming iOS 18 update.
The page, initially discovered by 9to5Google, highlighted the benefits of RCS and included a section titled “coming soon on iOS” with a promise of “Better messaging for all.”
While the card is no longer visible, the text remains in the page’s source code. According to the description, “Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone.”
Last November, Apple announced their plans to add RCS compatibility, but did not provide a specific timeline. They simply stated that it would be coming “next year.”
Google has long been pushing Apple to add support for RCS in order to eliminate the distinction between “green bubbles” (Android) and “blue bubbles” (iPhone). While RCS may not completely solve this issue, it will allow Android users to send higher quality media to iPhone users.
In 2020, Google introduced new RCS features like a profile, Photomoji, and improved audio quality for voice notes, citing that 1 billion people were already using RCS on a monthly basis.
This reveal about the potential compatibility timeline for iPhones comes at a time when the U.S. Department of Justice is initiating a legal battle against Apple for their monopolistic practices. Interestingly, the lawsuit includes “green bubbles” as an issue that affects user security.
