Does iOS 18.4 Include RCS Support for Your Carrier? Check Here!
The latest iOS 18.4 update now supports RCS for select carriers. Is your provider included in this new feature?
The Arrival of RCS on iPhone
Apple’s integration of Rich Communication Services (RCS) in its iPhones through iOS 18 has sparked keen interest, marking a significant shift as the tech giant had long resisted this standard. Previously, RCS availability largely depended on mobile carriers, but improvements are being seen over time. According to Infobip, RCS adoption in France surged by 176% in 2024, mirroring a global trend towards more enriched and interactive messaging services.
A New Update for Certain Operators
The latest update, part of iOS 18.4, extends RCS support to MVNOs, enabling subscribers of these networks to activate RCS on their iPhones:
- Free
- Bouygues Telecom
- Orange
- SFR
- Sosh…
The Benefits of RCS
RCS’s main advantage is its use of internet connectivity rather than traditional cellular signals for messaging, which prevents photo and video compression during exchanges between Android and iPhone, ensuring superior display quality. Other notable benefits include the ability to react with emojis, see read receipts, typing indicators, and other features absent in non-iMessage services. However, RCS on iPhone does not offer end-to-end encryption, a surprising omission given Apple’s previous stance citing lack of encryption as the main reason for not adopting RCS. Apple has committed to working with GSMA, which maintains the RCS standard, and Google to address this issue, but no progress has been reported yet.
How to Activate RCS on iPhone
To enjoy RCS features when messaging Android users, ensure the feature is activated. Go to the Settings app, select Applications and Messages. You will see an option for RCS Messaging with a toggle next to it. Switch it on, and you should be able to send RCS messages to contacts who have also enabled this feature.