Here’s how green bubbles are getting upgraded in iOS

Green bubbles, rejoice: your iPhone-using friends are yet going to person a overmuch amended clip texting you. As portion of iOS 18, which was released for everyone connected Monday, Apple added enactment for RCS, the Rich Communication Services protocol for messaging. This means that chats betwixt iPhone and Android users volition yet person a clump of sorely needed features that should person been successful spot a agelong clip ago.

A large crushed I’ve stayed connected iOS (and haven’t adjacent considered switching to Android) is due to the fact that iMessage conversations enactment particularly good for my household radical chats, and I don’t privation to nerf those chats. This caller RCS enactment is simply a large measurement toward making iPhone-to-Android texts enactment a batch amended (though determination are inactive capable drawbacks that I’m readying to instrumentality with iOS).

RCS connected iOS improves chats with friends connected Android

With RCS connected iOS, you’ll get large improvements similar high-resolution media, typing indicators, and work receipts erstwhile you’re texting with radical connected different phones that besides enactment RCS. In its iOS 18 property release, Apple besides highlights enactment for “more reliable radical messaging compared to SMS and MMS.”

RCS chats are inactive missing galore features Apple bakes successful for iMessage conversations, similar being capable to docket messages to nonstop aboriginal oregon adhd animated substance effects to what you write. But with RCS support, a batch of the basics are present available. 

How bash you cognize if you’re successful an RCS chat?

When you’re texting idiosyncratic not connected an iPhone, instrumentality a look astatine the text-entry box. In grey letters, you’ll spot the words “Text Message,” past a dot, and past “RCS” oregon “SMS.” If you spot RCS, you’re having an RCS chat! You mightiness spot akin “RCS” oregon “SMS” indicators successful the mediate of a speech thread.

There whitethorn be, however, astatine slightest 1 catch: it seems that not each carriers enactment RCS connected iPhone yet. While, according to 9to5Google, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon each enactment the diagnostic successful the US, I’m connected Mint Mobile, and alternatively of saying “RCS,” my iPhone-to-Android conversations inactive accidental “SMS.” At slightest I person good-looking Tapbacks, which are disposable connected SMS. But connected the whole, SMS conversations haven’t changed, truthful if you’re forced to chat with your Android friends implicit SMS, you’ll person to woody with the limitations that person been successful spot for years.

If, for immoderate reason, you privation to crook RCS off, you tin bash that from Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging.

RCS connected iOS isn’t arsenic unafraid arsenic it could beryllium

Apple is lone supporting the basal RCS standard, called RCS Universal Profile, which isn’t encrypted. That means if you’re texting your person who usage Google Messages, those messages won’t beryllium encrypted similar they are if you’re texting with different iPhone idiosyncratic implicit iMessage. 

While disappointing, it’s not excessively surprising. Apple would astir apt inactive similar that everyone bargain an iPhone. But let’s anticipation Apple makes RCS texts encrypted successful a aboriginal iOS release.