Apple announced it would support Rich Communication Services (RSC) starting next year for its iPhones, which could be the start of replacing short messaging service, commonly known as SMS.
The plans revealed on Thursday include adopting a messaging standard to bring Android users iMessage features. It would erode what some have considered an element of Apple's walled garden.
Apple's Support for RCS
The change will add various features, such as a read receipt, typing indicators, better support for group chats, and higher-quality media sharing of images and videos across platforms. RCS is considered an alternative to SMS and can work over Wi-Fi and mobile data.
In a statement, the tech giant said that it believes that RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. It added that it would also be able to work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the "best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users," as per CNN.
The announced change also comes after pressure from both regulators and competitors to work more seamlessly across operating systems. For example, the European Union's Digital Markets Act requires companies to make their key services interoperable between different platforms.
It also launched an investigation earlier this year into whether or not it considers iMessage a core product. On the other hand, Google has also been vocal about wanting Apple to adopt the standard.
In early November, the company wrote a letter addressed to the European Commission, arguing that iMessage was a core Apple product and should be required to comply.
Google's call to Apple included saying that it has been using outdated technology that could already be compared to pagers. According to Engadget, RCS support will make messages between Android and iOS devices more secure.
Improving Messaging Services
The tech giant stated on Thursday, in response to the announcement, that it was happy to see Apple finally supporting RCS. It said it welcomes its competitor's participation in its ongoing work with GSMA to evolve RCS and make customer messaging more equitable and secure.
A spokesperson for GSMA said earlier this year that the RCS Universal Profile (UP) "provides the industry with an open, consistent, and global messaging service across networks and devices." It added that the technology simplifies interoperability and enables OEMs and OS providers to achieve scale and give consumers a more consistent messaging experience.
The new implementation of RCS into Apple's messaging platform could also allow users to share their location with other people inside text threads. On the other hand, the tech giant has also rolled out some improvements to the SMS experience between iPhone and Android devices.
These include better support for Tapbacks in iOS 16 for conversations between iPhone and Android users. The company's iOS 17 has also brought new features such as threaded replies and message editing to iPhone users in SMS group chats, said 9to5Mac.
