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Google has been campaigning for years to replace SMS with RCS technology, which allows you to benefit from advanced messaging features. And in 2024, the company won a big victory, since Apple finally decided to support this technology on iOS 18. Thanks to RCS, it is possible to communicate between iPhone and Android smartphones, without going through SMS (too limited) or third-party applications like WhatsApp.
However, the implementation of RCS on iPhone is different from that of Google. While Google has created its own RCS server to offer this technology to all Android users, the iPhone only supports the technology if it is offered by operators. And, unfortunately, at the time of writing, RCS on iPhone is not yet offered by all the major operators in France.
As a reminder, SFR opened the ball. Then, in December, Bouygues Telecom and Free also adopted RCS, allowing iPhone users to benefit from this technology. That leaves only Orange, whose customers who use an iPhone must still use SMS to communicate with Android smartphones. But the good news is that Orange also intends to adopt RCS. The operator told our colleagues at 01net that support for RCS on iPhones will arrive in the first half of 2025. The reason for this delay is that Orange would like to “offer this service when all the customer experience conditions are met and optimal”.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000SMS messages are not going to disappear
Although it is a very old technology, SMS is not about to disappear, despite the existence of a more practical alternative. First of all, since RCS works on the internet, SMS remains a backup option for communicating, when the smartphone does not have access to mobile data or Wifi. But besides that, RCS is only available on Android or iOS smartphones. However, there are still millions of people in the world who buy basic phones (old touch-tone phones). Otherwise, it is also worth remembering that SMS is still very commonly used to verify phone numbers, when connecting or registering for an online service.
But in any case, the adoption of RCS by Apple and telephone operators should drastically reduce the use of SMS. On the other hand, it is important to note that, for the moment, RCS text messages sent between iPhone and Android smartphones are not end-to-end encrypted. This is also due to a difference in implementation between Apple and Google.
- In 2024, Apple finally supported RCS, an improved version of RCS, on the iPhone
- But for RCS to work on the iPhone, the technology must be supported by operators
- In France, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free already allow RCS to be used on iPhone
- And Orange will also offer this feature in 2025
- Despite the existence of RCS, SMS remains necessary when you don't have internet and for basic phones
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