Apple may not support RCS messages with end-to-end encryption on iPhone
RCS messages on iPhone (Source: Apple)
Apple has confirmed the availability of RCS messaging (Rich Communication Services) on iPhones running iOS 18. However, the US-based tech giant did not confirm which version of the RCS Universal Profile would be implemented. A report from Android Authority states that the Universal Profile 2.4 RCS standard will be the standard implemented on iPhones.
According to the report, a document from the Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA), an organization that represents mobile network operators worldwide, has gained credibility with Apple for supporting RCS Universal Profile 2.4. Another document titled ‘Messaging in the 5G era’ from the GSMA states that regulatory requirements in China require all 5G user devices to support the Universal Profile 2.4 RCS standard.
Based on these reports, it is easy to assume that Apple’s decision to support RCS messaging on iPhones was based on regulatory requirements in China, in addition to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the EU.
Last year, Apple said in a statement to 9To5Mac: “Later next year we will add support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard currently published by the GSM Association. We believe that RCS Universal Profile will provide a better interoperability experience compared to SMS or MMS. This will work together with iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”
Even at WWDC 2024, where Apple announced that RCS messaging support is coming to iPhones running iOS 18, the company didn’t reveal much about what RCS support in the iOS Messages app will actually look like. While RCS Universal Profile support enables interoperability with Android and other platforms, some features, such as end-to-end encryption, are not part of the RSC Universal Profile requirements. This suggests that Apple would not add support for end-to-end encrypted messaging with Android users using Google Messages and would keep it exclusive to its iMessage.
First print: June 11, 2024 | 3:32 PM IST