UK Carrier Three to Support RCS for iPhone Users Starting Next Month

After a lengthy period of holding back, Apple has finally committed to transitioning from traditional text messaging to RCS (Rich Communication Services) with the upcoming release of iOS 18. This change will introduce many features similar to iMessage for messaging between iPhone and Android users.

For this shift to take place, mobile carriers must also provide support, and UK-based carrier Three has informed its customers that it will implement this change starting next month.

Apple’s Delayed Adoption of RCS

Apple’s Messages application exclusively used the iMessage platform for communications among iPhone users but reverted to standard SMS when connecting with Android devices.

This posed issues since SMS lacks end-to-end encryption and does not offer features expected in modern messaging protocols. Despite regulatory calls and industry pressure for Apple to adopt RCS, the company had resisted for years, likely viewing iMessage as a crucial competitive edge for iPhones that RCS would diminish.

Nevertheless, Apple announced last year that it would finally embrace RCS, set to be included in iOS 18.

Three to Provide RCS for iPhone Users

In partnership with Apple, mobile networks also need to enable RCS for iPhone users, and UK carrier Three has officially confirmed its plans to do so.

We’re reaching out to inform you that starting from the week of December 9, 2024, as part of Apple’s iOS 18 updates, text messaging for Three customers using compatible iPhones will transition from SMS to a more advanced messaging service known as Rich Communication Services (RCS).

The RCS upgrade will introduce several enhanced messaging features and will utilize your data allowance rather than the SMS allowance. For those who prefer to stick with SMS, switching off RCS in the phone settings will be straightforward.

A support document outlines the advantages this switch will provide when messaging with Android users:

• Multimedia sharing: Easily share photos, videos, and audio files.
• Group chats: Engage in conversations with multiple participants at once.
• Read receipts: Confirm when your messages have been seen.
• Typing indicators: Observe when someone is in the process of replying.
• Enhanced security: Experience improved security with message encryption.
• No character limits: Send longer messages without any constraints.

Photo by Cee Ayes on Unsplash