The discharge of the second iOS 18 developer beta this week introduced the primary take a look at one of the anticipated new options: RCS messages. And now that carriers have begun flipping the switches on the service, customers are eagerly testing out the function with their Android mates—and everyone seems to be loving it.
Whereas it’s not almost as full-featured as iMessage (and non-Apple gadgets will nonetheless be designated with inexperienced bubbles), RCS messaging brings a number of options customers have needed for years, together with:
- Typing indicators
- Learn and Delivered receipts
- Tapback replies with any emoji
- Excessive-quality images and movies
- Massive file sharing
- Audio messages
The brand new options additionally lengthen to group chats, which now not deliver the entire dialog again to SMS ranges. Now conversations with a mixture of Android and iPhone customers shall be “extra dependable,” in keeping with Apple, however customers will solely discover that primary iMessage options will now not be unavailable.
After all, Android customers nonetheless gained’t have entry to unique iMessage options, together with modifying and deleting messages, stickers, and message results. Messages additionally gained’t be end-to-end encrypted at launch, although Apple says it’s working with the GSM Affiliation “to evolve RCS and make messaging extra equitable and safe.”
