Insights

RCS and Apple: A Bold Step Towards Unified Messaging Experiences

Nov 17, 2023

In a seminal announcement issued on Thursday, November 16, 2023, Apple unveiled plans to integrate support for the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard on iPhones, heralding a new era of innovation in cross-platform messaging. This strategic move is expected to revolutionize the messaging landscape by making interactions between Apple and Android devices more seamless, streamline and systemized.

In a statement to the press, spokesperson Jacqueline Roy affirmed Apple’s commitment to incorporating RCS Universal Profile, stating that:

"Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users."

So, what exactly is RCS, and why does it matter?

Imagine a world where group chats are livelier and more authentic, sending high-res GIFs is swift and breezy and you always know when friends and family have received – and read! – your messages. It’s like getting a backstage pass to the coolest texting party, an invite to a realm where communication is not just a functional but also an immersive experience…

… A realm that is made possible by RCS, the messaging protocol that is modernizing traditional SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). Positioned as the evolution of standard messaging, RCS endeavors to deliver a more dynamic and feature-rich user experience. 

So, how does it accomplish this? First and foremost, RCS offers a host of features that SMS and MMS do not (and technologically, cannot). Specifically, it allows users to transmit sophisticated multimedia content like high-quality images, audio messages and video files. Likewise, the protocol supports advanced functionality such as read receipts, group chats, real-time video calling and location sharing. In fact, the benefits of RCS are so staggering that in 2008, the GSMA – a global organization of over 1000 operators whose aim is to discover, develop and deliver mobile innovation – adopted the RCS standard.

While technological enhancement is at the forefront of Apple's move, many would agree that an interest in maintaining compliance with industry standards is also influencing the company’s decision to adopt RCS. 

For one, from a global perspective, it’s clear that integrating the protocol is in alignment with the current regulatory landscape, including the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Furthermore, the adoption of RCS would serve to underscore Apple's commitment to maintaining industry compliance standards, fostering interoperability between platforms, and preventing anti-competitive practices amongst providers.

As anticipation for the 2024 rollout builds, however, many critical questions remain unanswered: How exactly will Apple integrate RCS support into iOS? Will the standard manifest itself as a distinct application, or will it get incorporated into iMessage? Clearly, the intrigue surrounding these questions and more emphasizes the nuances that come with providing – and maintaining – truly user-centric experiences.

Apple's decision to support RCS for iPhone starting in 2024 represents a pivotal milestone in messaging’s evolution. Moreover, though, this transformative stride underpins the need for industry-wide systemization measures and interoperability standards that ensure fluidity across platforms. As RCS integration into iOS prepares for its major debut in the coming year, it will be exciting to see how Apple’s adoption of the protocol helps to set the stage for a more secure, innovative and modern messaging experience.  

Interested in previous industry conversations around the benefits and future of RCS?  If so, check out the following insights:

• Texting, Trust and Transformation: The Future of Business Communications
• To Infinity and Beyond – Business Messaging Today, Tomorrow and Lightyears into the Future
• Explore the Future of Mobile Messaging with Somos Advisory Member Gene Lew
• Promoting Industry Connection and Collaboration with Somos Advisory Board Member Nick Sgroi
• New Industry Standards Help RCD Take Giant Leap into the Future