Google has announced that Apple will be adopting Rich Communication Services (RCS) for the iPhone in fall 2024. This information was revealed on a new landing page for Google Messages, which also highlighted the benefits of RCS. These benefits include high-resolution photo and video sharing, typing indicators, and an improved group chat experience.
Apple had previously announced its intention to adopt RCS in November 2023, but did not provide a specific timeline. Google’s announcement more or less confirms that RCS will likely be integrated with iOS 18. However, it is still unclear whether RCS will be included in the initial 18.0 release or a later update.
In addition to RCS, Google also mentioned that animated emoji reactions are coming soon with RCS. Currently, emoji reactions are handled by the Google Messages client, while iOS has a similar feature. This suggests that reactions might be part of the RCS specification in the future.
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