8mo ago

How RCS on iPhone Will Make Texting Better for Everyone

www.cnet.com How RCS on iPhone Will Make Texting Better for Everyone

The update is expected to arrive with iOS 18.

You're viewing a single thread.

71 comments

I still don't get what's so great about RCS over SMS/MMS? There's E2EE but that won't be in this implementation apparently.
- Being able to send pictures and videos without SMS/MMS downscaling them to like 144p (hell I've had it be even worse than that for videos sometimes) is incredibly handy. That's the main benefit for me. Others have commented about the other features. And I'm fairly certain the article did state E2EE will be implemented.
- A variety of small but useful features. Typing indicator, reactions, read receipts, and larger media limits. I'm sure there's more, that's all I can think of off the top of my head.
  
  You can send rcs messages over Wifi even if you don't have a cell signal, like iMessage. You can also get iPhone emoji reactions to messages instead of getting a text message saying "X hearted this," or w/e
  
  SMS has read receipts too. I'm not sure I care about any of the others.
  
  The best that the SMS protocol can tell you is whether the message was delivered and even that isn't a requirement. SMS has delivery receipts, it does not have read receipts.
  
  Okay.
- okay, so, the idea was initially to build something akin to SMS/MMS in the way it's used but make it more ready for the modern age
  just a couple of problems:
  End-To-End-Encryption isn't officially a part of RCS itself thanks to Telcom companies in the US not being allowed to add that
  Google Messages is literally the only way to use RCS right now.
  It's "open"-ness is quite disputed due to Google's control over it
  really, we should either be using Matrix, or at the very least build out XMPP into something more modern.
  
  what do you mean Telecoms companies aren't allowed to add E2EE? there is no such regulation I'm aware of.
  besides, how would Apple have been supporting E2EE in iMessage for so long if Telecoms companies weren't allowed?
  could be a motivation issue, but not a regulation issue.
  
  Well for one, iMessage runs over the internet and Apple isn't a telecom company (Verizon, etc)
  Either way, the TL;DR is that either there must be a backdoor or something else to allow law enforcement to access communications that run over telecom companies. This doesn't apply when a user does it, but definitely when telecom companies design a messaging protocol.
  
  yes I know Apple isn't a Telecoms company but you need a SIM from a Telecoms company to use iMessage. RCS runs over the Internet too, yet you also need a SIM card for that. Also Telecoms companies aren't designing message protocols anymore. I don't think you know what you're talking about.
  
  iMessage can also run over e-mail.
  And RCS was designed by the GSMA which is effectively a bunch if telecommunications companies.
- Videos that don't compress to hell when there's both iOS and Android in a chat, that's the main feature.
- One feature I found extremely useful is that you can now quote previous texts. Less useful is the ability to react to texts with emojis. But it's good for letting someone know that you saw/liked their message by reacting with a thumbs up.
  
  I have never remembered this when it would actually be useful, and always end up accidentally doing it.
- It only has E2EE if you use Google's proprietary implementation. And even then it's not the best implementation of E2EE.
  There has been some chatter of adding it to the RCS spec, though.
  Not that it matters that much, on Android you're still locked to Google's RCS API and the same will be true to iOS with Apple's.
- Blue bubbles.
  (I'm half joking)

71 comments