With the launch of RCS messaging on iPhones with iOS 18, the governing body behind the standard is now teasing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) between iOS and Android.
"The next major milestone is for the RCS Universal Profile to add important user protections such as interoperable end-to-end encryption," the GSMA says. "This will be the first deployment of standardized, interoperable messaging encryption between different computing platforms."
On Monday, Apple rolled out iOS 18, which includes long-awaited support for Rich Communication Services (RCS). This allows texters to exchange high-quality media and provides features like read receipts and typing indicators. (Messages from Android users will still show up in green.)
But Phone-to-Android RCS chats only encrypt messages in transit, not end-to-end, potentially putting messages at risk of interception. Adding end-to-end encryption poses "significant technical challenges," says GSMA Technical Director Tom Van Pelt, but once rolled out, "users will benefit from stronger protections from scam, fraud, and other security threats."
RCS chats between Android phones using Google Messages have had end-to-end encryption since 2020. On LinkedIn, Google General Manager Elmar Weber shared the GSMA's post and said: "We believe that #E2EE is a critical component of secure messaging, and we have been working with the broader ecosystem to bring cross-platform E2EE to RCS chats as soon as possible. Google is committed to providing a secure and private messaging experience for users, and we remain dedicated to making E2EE standard for all RCS users regardless of the platform."
In the US, RCS support for iOS 18 is rolling out via AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. You can enable RCS in Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging. If you don't see the option, it's probably because your carrier or region has yet to support it.