- A brand new model of RCS is on the best way that can permit encrypted messaging between iOS and Android
- Apple has beforehand by no means supplied encrypted messaging outdoors the iMessage customary
- This follows Apple’s adoption of unencrypted RCS final yr
A brand new announcement from the GSM Affiliation confirms Apple is bringing end-to-end encryption to RCS messaging on iPhone for the primary time, marking a serious step for cross-platform communications.
Encrypted messaging on iPhone was beforehand restricted to Apple’s personal iMessage customary, which is just out there to Apple customers and as such is just doable between two or extra iPhones or different Apple gadgets.
Apple initially enabled RCS on iPhone in 2024, after 17 years of forcing iPhone customers to textual content different platforms over SMS, with the caveat that end-to-end encryption wouldn’t be an out there function.
Now, the GSM Affiliation – the non-profit business physique that represents the world’s cell community operators – confirms {that a} multitude of business companions, together with Apple, have collaborated on a brand new RCS customary that helps end-to-end encryption throughout a number of platforms.
Apple spokesperson Shane Bauer instructed The Verge: “We’ll add help for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software program updates.”
RCS, which stands for Wealthy Communication Companies, has been the usual of selection for the Android telephones for a number of years now, however Apple has been sluggish to undertake the universally out there communication protocol.
From the beginnings of the iPhone in 2007 up till final yr, Apple solely allowed iPhones to textual content other forms of telephones over SMS, which affords no encryption and really restricted choices for sharing media.
Finish-to-end encryption, the place messages are solely displayed in deciphered kind to senders and recipients, is a key promoting level of RCS and a proudly-touted function of different main messaging companies like WhatsApp.
My take: a win for everyone
As TechRadar’s cell computing workers author, I see my justifiable share of Apple cynicism, however having gotten my frustration at Apple for delaying the adoption of RCS principally out of my system final yr, I’m feeling optimistic about this newest announcement.
Because the iOS and Android ecosystems proceed to diversify, it’s turning into more and more apparent that the duopoly of Apple and Google isn’t going away any time quickly, and with the finest iPhones and the finest Android telephones all providing top-flight efficiency and have units, its possible the folks in your life will symbolize a mix of the 2 consumer bases.
This new model of RCS is a win for everyone: higher communication over a safe channel, with out the necessity for third-party apps. I’m significantly glad that much less tech-savvy customers will be capable of depend on Apple’s default Messages app to maintain their texts and despatched media safe.
I’m additionally glad to see Apple exhibiting a little bit of willingness to collaborate with its rival for the larger advantage of its consumer base. Apple continues to indicate itself as an organization that genuinely cares about consumer privateness – even when, we not too long ago noticed within the UK, meaning battling with governments to attain its imaginative and prescient of information safety.
What do you consider this announcement? Is Apple heading in the right direction, or is that this too little, too late? Tell us within the feedback.