In case you’re operating the iOS 18 developer beta, you could have observed your Android mates aren’t the identical inexperienced bubbles as they was. Carriers have been steadily rolling out RCS support on the backend, and loads of iPhone-wielding of us have already reported decade-long feuds being solved as a result of Apple acquiescing to the existence of the messaging protocol. It’s a gorgeous time to be alive!
The second iOS 18 developer beta options the brand new RCS functionality quietly introduced at WWDC 2024. These bravely braving the developer beta on a each day driver can now ship wealthy messages to their Android brethren. Audio and video despatched between gadgets will not be compressed down. Group chats will not be butchered and damaged as family and friends try to seek out widespread floor, akin to who will convey the dessert to the gathering. And also you’ll see when an iPhone consumer has left you, pricey Android consumer, on learn.
9to5Mac reviews that just some U.S. carriers are at the moment on board with RCS. The majors, together with AT&T, T-Cellular, and Verizon, are the one carriers rolling it out, probably in a bid to assist out these builders concentrating on apps for iOS 18.
If you’re, for some purpose—moreover growing an app—operating the developer beta of iOS 18, you would possibly see an choice to toggle it on within the settings panel below Settings > Apps > Messages. If it’s not there, your present supplier hasn’t turned it on but. Preserve ready! And possibly revert to a secure model of iOS!
What shall be fascinating to see is whether or not customers will migrate again to the default messages app for inter-platform communication. For example, I’ve most well-liked my WhatsApp expertise for sharing high-res messages with my iPhone-using peeps. However I additionally assume they probably need to return to Apple Messages to speak with me, their one Android-using greatest pal, the place they already chat with everybody else. We’ll see the way it lands when iOS 18 hits iPhones this fall.