iOS 18.4’s Messages app adds RCS features for lots of new users

Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/04/01/ios-184s-messages-app-adds-rcs-features-for-lot-of-new-users/

Summary

iOS 18.4 significantly improves iPhone-Android messaging by adopting RCS. This update replaces outdated SMS/MMS, enabling high-resolution media sharing, read receipts, typing indicators, improved group chats, Wi-Fi messaging, enhanced encryption, and better file/location sharing. This addresses long-standing frustrations with cross-platform communication's limitations. For most users, RCS will be enabled automatically, falling back to SMS/MMS if the recipient lacks RCS. Apple's move, likely influenced by user demand and regulation, fosters competition and could lead to RCS becoming the dominant messaging protocol, promoting increased connectivity and understanding across device ecosystems.

Full News Report

## iOS 18.4's Messages App Adds RCS Features for a Flood of New Users: Better iPhone-Android Messaging Arrives Cupertino, CA – Apple's latest software update, iOS 18.4, is rolling out to users now, and the biggest highlight for many will be the significantly expanded support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) within the Messages app. This update brings a noticeable improvement to the iPhone-Android messaging experience for a vast wave of new users, finally bridging the gap in features that has long separated communication between the two platforms. The update, released on [Insert Date Here], aims to modernize cross-platform communication, making it more seamless, feature-rich, and ultimately, less frustrating. But what exactly does this mean for you? Let's dive into the details. ### What's New in iOS 18.4's Messages App with RCS? The core change revolves around the implementation of the RCS Universal Profile, a standard designed to replace the aging SMS/MMS protocols. This allows for features previously exclusive to iMessage (or absent entirely in iPhone-Android interactions) to now function between iOS and Android devices. The key improvements include: * **High-Resolution Photo and Video Sharing:** Say goodbye to blurry, pixelated pictures and videos when sending to Android users. RCS allows for full-resolution media sharing, ensuring your memories are displayed in their original quality. * **Read Receipts and Typing Indicators:** Know when your message has been read and see when the recipient is typing a reply. This brings a new level of real-time interaction to cross-platform conversations. * **Improved Group Chats:** Group chats involving both iOS and Android users become significantly more functional. RCS introduces features like the ability to name group chats, add or remove participants seamlessly, and enjoy better overall management. * **Wi-Fi Messaging:** Send and receive messages over Wi-Fi when cellular service is weak or unavailable. This can be a major benefit in areas with poor reception or when traveling internationally. * **Enhanced Encryption:** While not end-to-end encryption like iMessage, RCS offers Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, providing a more secure experience than SMS/MMS. This is a crucial step towards protecting user privacy. * **Improved File Transfer:** RCS allows for sharing larger files than traditional SMS/MMS, making it easier to send documents, presentations, and other important files across platforms. * **Better Location Sharing:** Accurately share your location with contacts, enhancing coordination and safety. ### Why This Matters: The SMS/MMS Problem For years, the disparity between iMessage and SMS/MMS has been a source of frustration for iPhone users and their Android-toting friends and family. SMS/MMS, the technology used for cross-platform messaging, is outdated and limited. It suffers from: * **Limited Media Quality:** Compressing images and videos to fit within SMS/MMS limitations results in significant quality loss. * **Lack of Features:** Read receipts, typing indicators, and other modern messaging features are absent. * **Security Vulnerabilities:** SMS/MMS is notoriously insecure, making it vulnerable to interception and spoofing. * **Group Chat Inconveniences:** Group chats are often clunky and difficult to manage. * **Character Limits:** SMS messages are limited to a certain number of characters, often requiring messages to be split into multiple parts. By adopting RCS, Apple is finally addressing these shortcomings and bringing a more modern and feature-rich messaging experience to cross-platform communication. ### The "Who" and "Where" of RCS Expansion in iOS 18.4 This update primarily benefits iPhone users interacting with Android users. While the feature is integrated within the Messages app, its effectiveness hinges on Android users also having RCS enabled. Fortunately, Google has been aggressively pushing RCS adoption through its Google Messages app, which is now the default messaging app on many Android devices. The expanded support in iOS 18.4 is aimed at a broad spectrum of iPhone users, specifically those who frequently communicate with contacts on the Android platform. It's available to users worldwide, wherever iOS 18.4 is supported. However, the specific availability of RCS features might vary slightly depending on carrier support and regional regulations. ### How to Access and Enable RCS in iOS 18.4 The good news is that for most users, RCS will be enabled automatically upon updating to iOS 18.4. The Messages app will detect if the recipient is using RCS and automatically switch to the protocol. If for some reason it's not enabled, you can typically find the option within the Messages settings on your iPhone. * Go to **Settings** > **Messages**. * Look for an **RCS messaging** option. (If it's present, ensure it's toggled on.) It's important to note that if an Android user doesn't have RCS enabled, messages will fall back to SMS/MMS. The color of the message bubbles will also provide a visual cue. iMessage messages are blue, RCS messages are likely to be displayed in a different color (check your provider, but it is likely to be green or a newer shade of blue), and SMS/MMS messages are typically green. ### The Long-Awaited Arrival and Its Implications Apple's initial resistance to RCS adoption has been a subject of much debate. Critics argued that the company intentionally created a walled garden around iMessage to incentivize users to stay within the Apple ecosystem. This update signals a shift in Apple's strategy, possibly influenced by regulatory pressure and growing user demand for a better cross-platform messaging experience. The implications of this move are significant: * **Improved User Experience:** The most immediate benefit is a vastly improved messaging experience for both iPhone and Android users. Sharing media, participating in group chats, and communicating in general becomes more seamless and enjoyable. * **Reduced "Green Bubble" Stigma:** The "green bubble" phenomenon, often used to denote non-iPhone users in group chats, has been a source of social stigma, particularly among younger generations. RCS adoption helps to alleviate this issue by bridging the feature gap between platforms. * **Increased Competition:** By leveling the playing field, Apple's move could foster increased competition in the messaging space. Other messaging apps may need to innovate further to differentiate themselves. * **Future of Messaging:** RCS could become the dominant messaging protocol, replacing SMS/MMS entirely. This would pave the way for even more advanced features and a more unified messaging experience across all devices. ### Related Trends and the Future of Messaging The expansion of RCS in iOS 18.4 is just one piece of a larger trend towards more sophisticated and versatile messaging platforms. Other trends include: * **End-to-End Encryption:** While RCS offers TLS encryption, the ultimate goal is end-to-end encryption for all messages, regardless of platform. This would provide the highest level of security and privacy. * **Integration with Other Services:** Messaging apps are increasingly integrating with other services, such as payment platforms, e-commerce sites, and productivity tools. This allows users to perform a wider range of tasks directly within the messaging app. * **Artificial Intelligence:** AI is being used to enhance messaging in various ways, such as providing smart replies, filtering spam, and translating messages in real-time. * **Augmented Reality (AR):** AR is starting to make its way into messaging, allowing users to share interactive experiences and enhance their conversations with virtual elements. The future of messaging is likely to be characterized by greater integration, intelligence, and personalization. iOS 18.4's adoption of RCS is a significant step towards that future, bringing a more modern and feature-rich messaging experience to millions of users. While it might not completely erase the divide between iPhone and Android, it definitely narrows the gap, making communication easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved. The iOS **184s** update is a clear signal that Apple is listening to its users and adapting to the evolving landscape of mobile communication, particularly how its **messages** **app** integrates with other platforms and **adds** value. The **app's** new features will have a ripple effect, hopefully encouraging greater connectivity and understanding across device ecosystems.