After hanging out for a long time, Apple finally agrees to manage the RCS protocol with end -to -end encryption to ensure the confidentiality of messages between iOS and Android. A great progress for users!
Google’s efforts to generalize RCS – Rich Communication Services – ended up bearing fruit! After years to obstinately refuse to implement this communication protocol intended to replace SMS and MMS for the exchange of messages on mobile, Apple finally agreed to take care of this messaging standard in Imessage last September, through iOS 18 (see our article). A small revolution, since the apple firm has always preferred to keep its owner format, thus blocking the generalization of this universal system. However, Steve Jobs’ company had only done things, refusing to support the encryption of communications between iOS and Android devices. A function that Apple now undertakes to deploy in a future update, finally filling a major gap in the current implementation.
RCS Apple: A highly anticipated encryption function
RCS (for Rich Communication Services) is a protocol designed to replace SMS and MMS, now exceeded, in the exchange of messages on mobile. Developed since 2012 by the big names in telephony, it is distinguished by its richness and sophistication, offering functions similar to those of applications such as WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or Imessage. Unlike SMS that pass through the 2G network, the RCS uses the Internet, more precisely mobile data. Result: like modern instant messaging, it allows much more than a simple text – accused of reception and reading, position sharing, indication of seizure in real time, sending photos and videos in high quality, group discussions, video calls, and much more.
But the absence of end -to -end encryption between Android and iOS users posed a real problem. Indeed, it guarantees that only the sender and the recipient can access the content of the messages, excluding any possibility of interception by a third party. In short, it is essential to ensure the confidentiality of exchanges. If it was guaranteed on Imessage, it is now extended to RCS exchanges with Android users. The function will be added to iOS, iPados, MacOS and Watchos in future software updates. Note that this will not change the distinction of color made by Apple between iPhone users (blue bubbles) and Android users (the famous green bubbles)!
There Gsma (Global Mobile Security Association), the organization responsible for the development of the RCS standard, began to work on activating the E2EE protocol for messages exchanged between Android and iPhone last September. It only announced the new RCS specification with E2EE care until March 14, 2025. It is therefore unknown how long it will take to integrate the profile updated to its software.