U članu „Sve o usvajanju Rich Communication Services-a (RCS) od strane Applea 2024,“ ističe se da je Apple u sredinom novembra objavio da će usvojiti Rich Communication Services (RCS) do 2024. godine, unapređujući standarde komunikacije za razgovore koji nisu putem iMessage-a. Ova vest je iznenadila mnoge, jer je Google godinama pritiskao Apple da implementira RCS, ali Apple nije pokazivao interes za to. U ovom vodiču objašnjeno je sve što trebate znati o RCS-u, uključujući kako funkcioniše, kako ćete ga koristiti na Apple uređajima, zašto je Apple odlučio da ga sad usvoji i prednosti koje možete očekivati kada se podrška doda. RCS je zamena za SMS i MMS, sa dodatnim funkcionalnostima, a koristiće se za slanje poruka osobama koje nemaju iPhone za iMessage.
RCS Explained
Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is a communication protocol developed by the GSM Association and championed by Google. It is used by smartphone manufacturers and carriers to deliver text-based messages, images, and videos between devices. RCS serves as a replacement for SMS (Short Messaging Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), combining the features of both and adding additional functionality. The adoption of RCS will allow users to send texts to those without iPhones for iMessage, enhancing the overall messaging experience.
RCS Features
RCS offers a range of features that improve upon the previous SMS and MMS standards. These features, especially beneficial to iPhone to Android chats, include:
- Higher resolution photos and videos: RCS allows for the transmission of media content in higher quality, enhancing the visual experience for users.
- Support for larger file sizes and file sharing: With RCS, users can easily share files of larger sizes, removing previous limitations on media sharing.
- Audio messages: RCS supports the sending of audio messages, providing users with a convenient and efficient method of communication.
- Cross-platform emoji reactions: Users can express their reactions to messages with emoji, bridging the gap between different messaging platforms.
- Real-time typing indicators: RCS displays typing indicators in real-time, providing users with visibility into the conversation flow.
- Read receipts: Messages sent via RCS can include read receipts, informing senders when their messages have been viewed.
- Ability to send messages over cellular or Wi-Fi: RCS messages can be sent over both cellular and Wi-Fi networks, allowing for greater flexibility in communication.
- Improved group chats: RCS enhances group chats by enabling more features and ensuring a smoother and more reliable experience.
- Better security with encryption: Google’s version of RCS includes end-to-end encryption, offering enhanced security for users’ messages. Apple plans to work with the GSMA to develop its own secure encryption standard for RCS.
RCS vs SMS/MMS
SMS and MMS have been the standard messaging protocols for many mobile devices over the past two decades. However, these standards have fallen behind modern chat apps in terms of features. RCS emerged as a modernized version of SMS/MMS, offering significant improvements. While SMS/MMS require a cellular connection to function, RCS messages can be sent over both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. RCS is more like WhatsApp or iMessage, providing additional features such as typing indicators, high-resolution images, file transfers, and video calls. Although SMS and MMS will still be available, RCS offers a more robust and feature-rich messaging experience.
RCS and iMessage
RCS and iMessage are not mutually exclusive but work alongside each other. In iPhone to iPhone conversations, where both devices support iMessage, iMessage will remain the default messaging platform. However, after the implementation of RCS support, turning off iMessage on an iPhone will likely result in RCS becoming the default for non-iMessage communications. The existing functionality of iMessage will remain unchanged for communications between Apple device users.
What RCS Means for iPhone Users
The adoption of RCS brings several benefits to iPhone users, particularly in cross-platform messaging situations. When communicating with Android users, users can expect improvements in several areas:
- Improvement in cross-platform messaging: RCS will reduce the frustrations associated with cross-platform messaging, leading to more reliable and seamless communication.
- Benefits for group texts: Group texts between Android and iPhone users will become less buggy, with fewer limitations on media size and improved stability.
- Enhanced features for iPhone to Android chats: Users will have access to features such as emoji reactions, typing indicators, and reliable file and image sharing when messaging Android users.
Overall, the introduction of RCS will enhance the messaging experience for iPhone users when communicating with those on Android devices, without affecting existing iMessage functionality.
RCS and Android
For iPhone users, RCS will primarily impact interactions with Android users. When RCS is fully implemented, Android devices that support RCS will be able to engage in RCS conversations with iPhone users. The availability of RCS depends on the support from both devices and carriers. Android devices, particularly those manufactured by Google and Samsung, have had RCS support for several years. The introduction of RCS will address current limitations in sharing photos and videos with Android users and provide better stability in group conversations. Overall, RCS will offer an improved communication experience when interacting with Android users.
Green Bubbles vs. Blue Bubbles
While the adoption of RCS will improve communication with Android users, there will be no color changes to the chat bubbles. iMessage conversations will continue to be denoted by blue chat bubbles, while RCS messages will be represented by green bubbles. It is important to note that SMS and MMS will still be available for networks that do not support RCS or in situations where RCS is unavailable. RCS requires support from both devices and the network, so if an iPhone user messages someone using an unsupported carrier or with RCS turned off, the message will fall back to SMS.
A Note on Encryption
Google’s implementation of RCS in Google Messages includes end-to-end encryption for Android devices. However, Apple’s adoption of the RCS Universal Profile, created by the GSM Association, means that RCS messages will not be end-to-end encrypted like iMessage conversations. Apple intends to collaborate with the GSMA to develop a more secure form of encryption that is natively integrated into RCS. While RCS messages will be more secure than traditional SMS/MMS, further improvements in encryption will be pursued.
RCS Worldwide
RCS has been adopted by Google, Samsung, and all major U.S. carriers. However, full functionality of RCS between iPhones and other devices in certain countries may depend on the support of local carriers. Local carrier support is crucial for enabling widespread RCS usage and ensuring seamless communication between devices. As RCS becomes more widely supported, users can expect a more consistent messaging experience on a global scale.
When Will Apple Adopt RCS?
Apple has announced its plans to adopt RCS in 2024. The exact timeline for implementation is not yet confirmed, but it is expected to occur at some point during the year. Apple’s decision to support RCS comes after years of pressure from Google and reflects a willingness to support device interoperability. Regulatory issues and the push for increased availability of iMessage on other platforms have likely influenced Apple’s decision. As the adoption of RCS by Apple progresses, users can look forward to an improved messaging experience and enhanced compatibility between iPhone and Android devices.
