Apple announced RCS with a whimper when it should have been a bang
What specific features of RCS (Rich Communication Services) did Apple fail to highlight during the iOS 18 announcement?
During the iOS 18 announcement, Apple failed to highlight several specific features of RCS (Rich Communication Services). The company did not mention how RCS adoption will finally allow iPhone and Android users to send each other high-resolution pictures and videos. Additionally, Apple did not discuss how RCS will enable support for cross-platform read receipts and typing indicators. Lastly, the company did not showcase how the emoji created with Genmoji, Apple's new AI emoji creation tool, will appear in texts sent to users on Android.
How will RCS improve communication between iPhone and Android users?
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a messaging platform that will improve communication between iPhone and Android users by providing a more modern and feature-rich experience compared to the traditional SMS and MMS standards. With RCS support in iOS 18, iPhone users will be able to send high-resolution images and videos, as well as enjoy other features like cross-platform read receipts and typing indicators when texting with Android users5.
RCS will bring several benefits to iPhone and Android users:
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Higher-quality media sharing: RCS allows for sending high-resolution images and videos, addressing the blurry and low-quality media issues when texting between iPhone and Android users5.
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Group messaging improvements: RCS will enable better group messaging experiences, including the ability to add and remove participants, as well as better support for group chats between iPhone and Android users5.
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Read receipts and typing indicators: RCS will introduce cross-platform read receipts and typing indicators, providing a more consistent and unified messaging experience for both iPhone and Android users5.
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Larger file sizes and file sharing: RCS supports larger file sizes and file sharing, making it easier to send various types of files between iPhone and Android users.
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Better security: While RCS does not currently have end-to-end encryption like iMessage, Apple plans to work with the GSMA to develop a more secure form of encryption that is natively integrated into RCS.
In summary, RCS adoption by Apple will significantly improve the messaging experience between iPhone and Android users by introducing feature parity, enhanced media sharing capabilities, and a more secure messaging platform.
What specific features will RCS support bring to iOS 18 for messaging between iPhone and Android users?
RCS support in iOS 18 will bring several improvements to messaging between iPhone and Android users. Some of the key features include:
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High-Quality Images and Video: With RCS support, users will no longer have to worry about pixelated images and videos. This will allow for better media sharing between iPhone and Android devices.
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Enhanced Messaging Features: Similar to iMessage, RCS will also offer features like delivery and read receipts1. This will help to enhance the messaging experience for both iPhone and Android users.
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Typing Indicators: RCS support will enable cross-platform typing indicators, allowing users to see when the other person is typing regardless of the device they are using.
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Larger File Size Limits: RCS will increase the file size limit for media sharing, addressing a long-standing frustration for users on both platforms.
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Real-time Texting: Users will be able to send messages over cellular or Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for SMS-only communication.
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Improved Group Chats: RCS will also enhance group messaging capabilities, making it easier for iPhone and Android users to communicate in group chats1.
Overall, RCS support in iOS 18 will significantly improve the messaging experience between iPhone and Android users, bridging the communication gap and providing feature parity between the two platforms.