At long last, RCS texting is making its way to the iPhone, signaling a potential shift towards a more modern and efficient texting standard. Google has been a strong advocate for RCS and has integrated features like message reactions in the hopes of improving texting interactions with iPhone users. However, for RCS to truly replace SMS and MMS, it needs to be accessible on all phones, not just Android and iPhone devices. This includes basic phones like flip phones, as well as services and apps that rely on SMS for communication.
Basic phones, like those offered by HMD under the Nokia brand, have seen a resurgence in popularity, offering features like web apps and services such as Google Maps and WhatsApp. Despite these advancements, basic phones are still limited to SMS and MMS for texting. The introduction of RCS could significantly enhance the texting experience on these devices, providing better group chat support and typing indicators that would benefit users seeking a more efficient way to communicate.
Online services that provide virtual phone numbers, such as Google Voice and Zoom Phone, are still reliant on SMS and MMS for messaging. Despite Google’s role in promoting RCS through its Google Messages app, these services have yet to make the switch to the more modern texting standard. The hope is that these services will soon adopt RCS, offering users a better texting experience that aligns with the advancements in messaging technology.
While Android has been at the forefront of RCS adoption, third-party texting apps like Pulse SMS have not yet integrated support for the standard. This poses a challenge for users who prefer these apps over native options. Beeper, a third-party texting app, has managed to support RCS integration through an unofficial integration with Google Messages. However, the lack of RCS support in popular third-party apps highlights the need for broader adoption of the standard across all devices and services.
As RCS continues to evolve and gain traction, its true impact will be seen when it becomes widely available across all devices and services. Apple’s forthcoming support for RCS on the iPhone will mark a significant milestone in advancing the standard, offering features like high-resolution media sharing and reliable group messaging. Collaboration between Apple and the GSMA to enhance RCS encryption could further improve the standard and pave the way for broader adoption. Until RCS becomes ubiquitous, SMS and MMS will remain the dominant, albeit outdated, messaging standard.
