Apple has revealed that it will adopt the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard late next year to offer improved interoperability with Android devices, saying RCS will “work alongside iMessage” and will improve communication between iPhone and Android users.
“Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association,” said an Apple spokesperson on Thursday. “We believe the 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.”
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a communication protocol designed to replace traditional SMS messaging with a more advanced and feature-rich system. Android maker Google has long condemned Apple for turning its back on RCS, creating a stigma between the blue and green text messages of iMessage and other users.
In the future, Apple intends to collaborate with Google and fellow members of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) to continue enhancing RCS.