Apple will support RCS messaging in 2024; Green bubble not going away

Apple has revealed its plans to integrate the RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging standard into its ecosystem, enabling a host of iMessage-style features to be accessible for messaging between iPhone and Android users.

This move is anticipated to be facilitated through a forthcoming software update set to roll out in 2024.

Catalyst for the Decision

Apple's pivotal decision comes amidst mounting pressure from regulatory bodies and competitors such as Google and Samsung.

The evolving maturity and development of the RCS platform also played a pivotal role in influencing this bold strategic shift.

Empowering Cross-Platform Communication

The integration of RCS with Apple's messaging framework is expected to introduce a plethora of iMessage-style features to cross-platform messaging between iPhone and Android devices.

This entails the incorporation of capabilities like read receipts, typing indicators, high-fidelity media sharing, and more, providing users with an enriched messaging experience.

Concurrent iMessage Continuity

Albeit the introduction of RCS, Apple asserts that iMessage will persist as the primary messaging platform for communication within the iPhone user community.

The coexistence of RCS with iMessage will effectively supplant the traditional SMS and MMS, functioning independently when available. Nevertheless, Apple affirms that SMS and MMS will continue to be accessible as backups when necessary.

Underlining the paramount significance of security and privacy, Apple emphasises that iMessage will offer substantially enhanced security compared to RCS.

With its end-to-end encryption and the recent advancement of Advanced Data Protection for Messages in iCloud, iMessage is positioned as a peerless platform in safeguarding user privacy. This stance arrives in contrast to the current encryption limitations of RCS.

Blue vs Green Bubble

According to a report by 9to5Google, the messaging bubble colours will stay the same, where blue denotes iMessages and green represents RCS messages, ensuring that the distinction and exclusivity of iMessages are upheld.

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