The forthcoming Apple operating system update for its mobile devices is anticipated to include support for Rich Communication Services. This advancement is expected to improve the current SMS/MMS infrastructure for text-based communication between iOS devices and Android devices. The abbreviation “RCS” refers to Rich Communication Services, which is a communication protocol between mobile telephone carriers and between phones, aiming at eventually replacing SMS.
The implementation of enhanced messaging offers benefits such as improved media sharing capabilities (high-resolution photos and videos), read receipts, typing indicators, and group chat functionalities comparable to those already available within proprietary messaging apps. This addition is significant because it bridges the feature gap between the default messaging experiences on iOS and Android, promoting a more unified and user-friendly communication environment across different platforms. The move towards RCS signifies an industry-wide shift toward modernized messaging standards.