The short version

Key points

  • RCS adds features including higher-quality media sharing, group chats, typing indicators and read receipts to traditional messaging.
  • Apple’s iOS 18 RCS support is available only where the user’s mobile carrier supports the service.
  • The Australian rollout depends on individual carriers, rather than Apple alone.
  • Vodafone reportedly has no current plans to support RCS on iOS 18.
  • Telstra was reportedly testing RCS for iPhone, while Optus support appeared less clear as of September 2024.

What RCS adds to messaging

Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is designed to modernise SMS and MMS. It supports features that users may already associate with iMessage and other messaging platforms, including group chats, typing indicators, read receipts and higher-quality media sharing.

The transcript states that RCS can support files up to 10 MB and removes the traditional SMS character limit. It can also improve the quality of photos sent through messaging, compared with the compressed images often associated with MMS.

RCS is intended to make messaging between Android and iPhone users more consistent. Features such as interactive messages and opening content in browsers or Maps may work across platforms, although the exact experience depends on the implementation and the services involved. Google Messages supports end-to-end encryption for some RCS chats, but it was not known whether Apple’s implementation would provide the same level of security.

Apple has adopted RCS, but not entirely on its own terms

Apple began rolling out RCS support for person-to-person messaging with iOS 18 in September 2024, initially in selected markets. If the iPhone is running iOS 18 and the carrier supports RCS, the feature can be activated in the Messages settings.

Apple said in November 2023 that it would support the RCS Universal Profile published by the GSM Association. The company described this as offering better interoperability than SMS and MMS, while confirming that RCS would work alongside iMessage.

The important distinction is that iMessage is controlled within Apple’s ecosystem. RCS requires cooperation from mobile carriers, including network configuration and access to the relevant RCS servers. This makes the rollout more complicated and means an iOS update alone cannot guarantee access.

Why Australian support is uncertain

Carrier readiness was identified as the main obstacle for Australian users. Vodafone had publicly stated that it had no current plans to support RCS on iOS 18. Telstra was described as more optimistic, with its network team reportedly testing RCS for iPhone and planning to provide updates through its mobile technology page.

Optus appeared less prepared, with its support team reportedly showing limited awareness of RCS at the time. These differences mean that two iPhone users running the same version of iOS may have different messaging capabilities depending on their carrier.

The situation was compared with Visual Voicemail, where support also depended heavily on carriers and was not available across every Australian network. As a result, Australian users may need to ask their provider directly whether RCS is supported before expecting the feature to work.

What RCS will not necessarily provide

RCS should not be treated as a complete replacement for every iMessage feature. The transcript notes that video calling between Android and iPhone users is unlikely to arrive through RCS, because Google’s RCS implementation did not support video calling at the time. Apple instead uses FaceTime links to allow Android users to join compatible calls.

The broader adoption of RCS on iPhone will depend on how quickly carriers deploy and support the service. Increased consumer demand may put pressure on Australian providers, but the timing and availability remained uncertain in September 2024.

TechManPat’s conclusion

I think RCS is a useful improvement for messaging between Android and iPhone users, particularly for group chats and better-quality media. However, I do not think Australian users should assume it will work simply because iOS 18 supports it. In my view, carrier support is the deciding factor, and Australians may have to wait or consider their provider if RCS becomes important to them.
Source note

This knowledge-centre summary is based on the linked TechManPat video and reflects the information available when it was published. Check current pricing, availability and policies before acting.