Google briefly showed a section for the new Google Messages page claiming that Apple is set to roll out Rich Communication Services (RCS) support for iPhones this fall, according to a report 9to5Google. This suggests that the iPhone maker is likely to expand RCS support in the upcoming iOS 18 update.
The page had details about the benefits of RCS. One of the sections within it was labeled “coming soon to iOS” under the subheading “Better Messages for Everyone.”
The card isn’t visible on the page right now, but TechCrunch has confirmed that text related to Apple’s RCS support on iOS is still in the page’s source code at the time of writing.
“Apple has announced that it will adopt RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone,” the description read.
Image Credits: Screenshot from 9to5Google
Last November, Apple confirmed that it was working on adding support for RCS. At the time, the company didn’t specify a timeline, but said compatibility would arrive “next year.”
For the longest time, Google has been urging, pushing and nagging Apple to add RCS to reduce the “Green bubble-blue bubble” differentiation. RCS won’t solve this problem, but it will mean that Android users will be able to send high-resolution media to iPhone users via Android’s native text messaging app.
Last year, Google announced new features for RCS, including profiles, Photomoji, and improved audio quality for voice memos. The company had said 1 billion people used RCS monthly.
Today’s news comes as the US Department of Justice is suing Apple, accusing the Cupertino-based company of antitrust practices. Specifically, the lawsuit counts “green bubbles” as an issue affecting user safety.
