Apple supports RCS on iOS 18

Is RCS messaging available on Apple iOS?

Apple has enabled P2P RCS messaging with the release of iOS 18, as announced at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC24), and A2P RCS for business with the release of iOS 18.1 beta in October 2024. 

Which carriers support RCS messaging?

Currently, RCS messaging is available in the following countries for P2P and A2P messaging depending on the carrier. Here’s a quick guide on where it is supported:

*Orange France, Sasktel and LUM in Canada, and KDDI Japan will be available with the release of iOS 18.4 in April 2025. 

How to enable RCS on your iPhone

First, you have to update your iOS software to iOS 18. If you live in one of the countries listed above and are a customer of one of the supporting carriers, you should be able to turn on RCS messaging (beta).  

In iPhone settings, select Messages, then RCS Messaging, and enable the channel to start chatting with Android users using rich messaging. 

In iPhone settings, select Messages, then RCS Messaging, and enable the channel to start chatting with Android users using rich messaging.

RCS as a fallback channel for iMessage

Here is what the new messaging methods look like:

• iMessage: There are no changes to iMessage in iOS 18. It will remain the preferred channel for messaging between Apple devices using blue bubbles. However, RCS will be the new fallback when iMessage isn’t an option.
• RCS: means non-iOS users can finally enjoy rich messaging perks when communicating with Apple users, but Apple-Android conversations will stay as green bubbles. Since RCS relies on data usage, SMS will remain the final fallback option when a basic cell connection is the only option.
• SMS or MMS: would be the message type iPhone and Android users would rely on to exchange messages, but these channels are not as rich or engaging as RCS, making conversing with people who own different devices more difficult.

A P2P conversation on iMessage vs. RCS vs. SMS

A snapshot of RCS for Business: iPhone vs. Android features

As of October, 28th 2024, RCS for business is also live on all Apple devices. Just like with RCS person-to-person messaging (P2P), RCS for Business availability is limited to the carriers that currently support the channel. For the carriers that support RCS for Business, there will be no additional actions needed, meaning RCS enabled users are able to receive messages by default on RCS for Business without enabling any additional settings. 

As more and more telecoms adopt RCS into 2025, we expect the use of RCS for Business as a conversational channel for brands to grow. It will allow brands to connect with Apple and Android users on a rich messaging channel. 

Total global growth in RCS for Business messages on the Infobip platform grew 5x in 2024, with the largest spike happening after Apple launched their support for the channel. 

Now as a native channel on both Apple and Android devices, RCS for Business has the potential to match the massive reach of SMS through MNOs with rich-messaging features for elevated customer experiences.  

RCS for Business features:

• Verified sender status 
• Custom branded messages 
• Rich media: text, images, GIFs, audio, video, documents, location  
• Rich cards
• Buttons
• Carousels 
• Suggested actions to messages (quick replies) 

RCS for Business is still new on iPhones, so there are a few quirks that need to be ironed out. The features listed above can look or perform differently depending on the device. We’ve done some testing and created a list of key differences and top tips to keep in mind when building RCS messages for customers on iPhone and Android, so messages always look and perform their best:  

Text messages and links 

Although there aren’t any differences between iPhone and Android text messages on RCS for Business, a key issue is that links may not be clickable on iPhone.  

Through thorough testing, we’ve discovered a clear pattern – if links are placed at the end of the message, they are always clickable. Anywhere else is a gamble.

Rich cards

Rich cards are a great way to grab attention, but they are limited to three lines of text on iOS, this is about 144 characters. So, if your message exceeds this limit, it will be cut off for iPhone users, affecting how they see and understand your message. 

Rich card with more than two CTAs 

Multiple CTAs are clearly visible on all Android devices but only sometimes on iPhone. In some cases, depending on the device model, only the first two CTAs are visible, and the others are tucked away under “Other”. Users must click to view the remaining CTAs.  

Carousels  

Carousels are an interactive and popular feature of RCS. They display slightly differently on iPhones vs. Android. On Androids the carousel is horizontal and scrollable so users can easily swipe through the carousel. On iOS the carousel looks like a stack of cards which can disrupt the user experience.

Other features: iPhone vs. Android

How does RCS Business Messaging compare to SMS and Apple Messages for Business?

All three channels are popular for their own reasons and can help businesses achieve certain goals around their business messaging. Let’s take a closer look at RCS vs SMS for business messaging and compare these channels to Apple Messages for Business (AMB). 

How secure is RBM?

Android and iPhone users will soon be able to exchange end-to-end encrypted messages (E2EE) to ensure exchanged messages remain private and secure between users.  

Additionally, secure business messaging is crucial as fraud scams are currently on the rise. RCS is regulated by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) who must give approval for enterprises to send messages. These rigorous measures manage brand verification and anti-SPAM rules, making RCS for Business a preferred solution for trusted brands and businesses seeking secure and reliable communication channels with their customers. 

FAQs about Apple RCS