- A new version of RCS is on the road that will allow encrypted messages between iOS and Android
- Apple previously has never offered encrypted messages outside the Imessage standard
- This follows the adoption of RCS without encrypting Apple’s adoption last year.
A new announcement of the GSM Association confirms that Apple is bringing end -to -end encryption to RCS messages on iPhone for the first time, marking an important step for multiplatform communications.
Iphone encrypted messaging was previously limited to Apple’s own IMessage standard, which is only available for Apple users and, as such, it is only possible between two or more iPhones or other Apple devices.
Apple initially enabled RCS on iPhone in 2024, after 17 years of forcing iPhone users to send text messages to other platforms through SMS, with the warning that end -to -end encryption would not be a characteristic available.
Now, the GSM Association, the non -profit industry agency that represents the world’s mobile network operators, confirms that a multitude of industry partners, including Apple, has collaborated in a new RCS standard that admits end -to -end encryption on multiple platforms.
Apple spokesman Shane Bauer told Verge: “We will add support for Extreme to end RCS messages to iOS, iPados, macos and watchos in future software updates.”
RCS, which represents enriched communication services, has been the standard of choice for Android phones for some years, but Apple has taken to adopt the universally available communication protocol.
From the beginning of the iPhone in 2007 until last year, Apple only allowed iPhones to send a text message with other types of phones through SMS, which do not offer encryption and very limited options to share media.
End -to -end encryption, where messages are only shown in deciphering ways and recipients, is a key RCS point of sale and a proudly promoted characteristic of other important messaging services such as WhatsApp.
My opinion: a victory for all
As a Techradar mobile computer personnel, I see my fair part of Apple’s cynicism, but after having my frustration in Apple for delaying the adoption of RCS mostly Outside my system last year, I feel optimistic about this last announcement.
As IOS and Android ecosystems continue to diversify, it is becoming increasingly obvious than Apple and Google’s duo does not disappear in the short term, and with the best iPhones and the best Android phones, all offer performance sets and characteristics of the main flyers, it is likely that people in their lives represent a mixture of the two user bases.
This new version of RCS is a victory for all: better communication over a safe channel, without the need for third -party applications. I am particularly happy that less technology expert users can trust Apple’s predetermined messages to keep their text messages safe and send the media.
I am also glad to see Apple showing some willingness to collaborate with its rival for the greatest benefit of its user base. Apple continues to show itself as a company that really cares about user’s privacy, even if we recently saw in the United Kingdom, that means fighting with governments to achieve their vision of data protection.
What do you think of this announcement? Is Apple on the right path, or is it too little, too late? Let us know in the comments.
