After what feels like age of Google asking , Apple has finally rolled out RCS as part of iOS 18 , available on iPhones around the world powerful now – and it ’s a handsome deal .
RCS basically replaces the sometime - school SMS and MMS standards when messaging Android users , allowing you to air high - re media , voice notes and much more , more closely aligning with the iMessage experience when messaging other iPhone user .
However , there ’s a catch ; not everyone can apply RCS on iPhone right now , and it all add up down to postman support . We explain everything you need to know , justly here .
Why is RCS support on iOS 18 a big deal?
RCS , or Rich Communication Services , is an upgraded form of SMS and MMS that has been prevalent on the Android side of things for quite some time now , essentially get something close to the iMessage or WhatsApp experience to the aboriginal messages app on Android , grant user to send high - res paradigm and videos , voice notation and more without any extra cost .
The job is , traditionally , Apple has n’t support RCS , which has facilitate stoke the fire of theBlue house of cards vs Green Bubbledebate – but that has changed withiOS 18 . With the latest software package release , Apple formally support RCS in the Messages app , permit you to message your Android chum with a similar experience to iMessage .
Of course , noteverythingon iMessage is available on RCS , especially Apple - exclusive feature like Text effect , but you could get read receipt , oppose to substance , join transversal - platform chemical group chats and get off jolly much whatever media you require . You wo n’t even require cellular sign like with traditional SMS , alternatively using Wi - Fi wherever potential .
Which UK networks currently support RCS on iPhone?
There is a haul to Apple ’s implementation of RCS however ; it rely on specific support from carriers . This is largely down to the fact that Apple has n’t set up its own servers to handle RCS information , or else legislate the long horse to carriers to handle the backend RCS execution .
That means that , lamentably , not all carrier support RCS on iPhone justly now – especially in the UK . In fact , according toApple ’s wireless carrier support pageboy , only two UK internet offer support for the technical school at launch ; EE and BT .
Users on other popular mesh like O2 , Vodafone , Three , giffgaff , Sky and Tesco Mobile are out of hazard for now – though we ’ve reached out to every UK internet for scuttlebutt on if , and when , support for RCS on iPhone is coming , and we ’ll update this plane section once we get confirmation .
How to enable RCS Messages in iOS 18
If you are lucky enough to be on a UK meshwork offering musical accompaniment for RCS on iPhone and want to enable it in iOS 18 , observe these steps :
1. Open the Settings app
get to the configurations app on your iPhone running iOS 18 – it ’s the cogwheel icon if you ’re unsure .
2. Tap Apps
From the options app , scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Apps .
3. Tap Messages
This should impart you to a tilt of all install apps on your iPhone . Scroll down until you get the Messages app , and tap it .
4. Tap RCS Messaging
If your web support RCS messaging , you should see an pick for RCS Messaging within the Text Message section . Tap it .
5. Toggle on RCS Messaging
at last , toggle on RCS Messaging to activate the functionality .
Once you ’ve take these steps , you should be able to return to the Messages app , and upon starting a conversation with an Android user using the RCS - enable Google Messages app , you should see RCS in the text field in place of SMS .
It ’ll still be a green bubble though …
