iOS 18 will likely include support for the cross-platform messaging standard RCS (Rich Communication Services), according to Google, who say that Apple will introduce support in the Messages app starting in the “fall of 2024,” which is typically when Apple releases its major annual software updates for iPhone.
Apple confirmed late last year that it would adopt the RCS messaging standard in 2024, offering improved interoperability with Android devices, although no indication of a release date was shared.
Now, however, Google has announced that Apple has confirmed it will adopt the RCS standard in the fall.
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.