End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging on iPhone coming in future software update

In collaboration with the GSM Association, Apple today announced it will add support for end-to-end encryption for RCS messages. This brings RCS much closer to iMessage in terms of security standards. The new RCS Universal Profile 3.0 including end-to-encryption was only just released today, so it’s not clear exactly when this support will ship to customers. Apple said it helped lead a cross industry effort to bring end-to-encryption to the RCS Universal Profile … Apple first added RCS support to the iPhone with iOS 18.1 last fall. RCS enables more rich communication experiences with Android users who aren’t using iMessage, through an industry standard which supplants traditional SMS. RCS includes features like typing indicators, emoji reactions, read receipts and support for higher-resolution photo and video attachments. However, until today, the RCS Universal Profile standard did not support end-to-encryption for messages sent over the protocol. But now that this capability has b ... Read full article.