After years of drama via iOS messages that display blue bubbles for iPhone and green users for Android devices, Apple finally I brought RCS support with IOS 18. However, unlike IMESSAGE, which was already encoded from comprehensive to finish (E2Ee), RCS messages were excluded due to the previous standard that lacks coding across the circumambulation. But this is about to change – thanks to the updated RCS specifications, iPhone and Android users will be able to soon send RCS E2e messages.

the The GSM Association confirmed that the latest RCS standard now supports encryption from end to end using the MLS security protocol (MLS). This represents that the first time encryption can work smoothly through different platform providers.

At the same time, Apple has announced its plans to adopt the new standard, which makes RCS messages much closer than IMessage in terms of security.

Apple, March 2025

By encryption from end to tip, your device only carries decoding keys, which means that no third party-including Apple or your carrier-can reach your conversations. IMessage has had this level of encryption since the first day.

As mentioned above, Apple provided RCS support to iPhone with iOS 181. Last fall, and finally giving Android users a more modern messaging experience in text messages with iPhone users. Unlike SMS, RCS brings major features such as writing indicators, expressive symbols, re -reading receipts and the ability to send high -resolution images and videos.

However, one of the main defects was the lack of encryption from one side to the party in the standard of the global RCS profile-so far.

– Tom van Bill, coach of GSMA, March 2025

Now that the encryption has become an official part of the RCS standard, Apple has not lost any time to adhere to its adoption. In fact, the technology giant was amazingly rapidly in it and I think it’s great to see Apple immediately returns such the main promotion of security, helping to make the correspondence safer for all users.

However, while the Apple advertisement came alongside the GSMA version of the RCS Universal Profile 3.0, there is no clear timetable for the time of the implementation of any company, including Apple, the entire new standard. So far, Apple has not participated when you plan to offer support in iOS.