A recent and brief update on the Google Messages website briefly hinted at Apple’s potential adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS) this fall. This update, included a section labeled “coming soon on iOS” with the heading “Better messaging for all.” While the section has been removed, the text remains in the page’s source code.
“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,” the description read.
Last November, Apple confirmed its plans to add RCS support, indicating compatibility would arrive “next year.” This potential change could mean improved features for cross-platform messaging, such as the ability for Android users to send higher-quality media to iPhone users.
While RCS won’t completely eliminate the visual distinction between iMessage and standard SMS/MMS, it would represent a significant step forward in messaging compatibility between the two mobile platforms.
