Rich Communication Services, or RCS, was added to iOS 18 in 2024. RCS promises to give regular SMS messages a more iMessage-type of experience with higher resolution images, read receipts, group chats and other features that iMessage users take for granted. RCS is a communications standard, developed and defined by the GSM Association (GSMA), that replaces SMS and MMS.
In short, RCS was meant to minimise the difference between green bubble and blue bubble messages. Yet, Australia’s three big carriers still don’t support RCS. And that means that when iPhone and Android phones send photos to each other, they might be blurry. Or if you set up a group chat with both Android and iMessage users, the message thread gets broken up.
RCS has the potential to remove many of the gripes we have in today’s bifurcated comms world where text messages between Android phones and iPhones are not treated equally.
Adopting RCS seems like a good idea but it seems there is a gulf between something being a good thing for consumers and the will of carriers to make it available.
We went to each of the three big carriers in Australia to ask them about their plans to implement RCS on their networks. We asked all three the exact same question:
Apple introduced support for RCS (Rich Communications Services) almost a year ago as part of iOS 18. When will [carrier name] support this feature?
It’s fair to say we were less than impressed with the responses we received. All are attributable to a spokesperson from each company.
Vodafone’s response:
Vodafone is committed to delivering the best possible messaging experience for our customers. With our mobile network now reaching over 1,000,000 square kilometres, we’re excited about the potential of RCS to complement this expansion and enhance how Australians connect. We’re actively exploring how best to bring this capability to our customers and look forward to sharing more updates in the near future.
Optus’ response:
Optus’ is continuing to progress towards enabling Rich Communication Services (RCS) and is actively engaging with both Google and Apple to ensure its implementation aligns with regulatory requirements.
We’ll continue to share updates as the program advances and key milestones are reached.
Telstra’s response:
RCS messaging is currently unavailable for iPhones in Australia. Telstra continues to collaborate with its partners to enable technologies that enhance customer experience on our network. As new features like RCS messaging become available locally, we will assess the necessary steps to support them for our customers.
If I was to summarise:
- Vodafone is looking into it but preferred to focus on the expansion of its network following a recent deal to share network access with Optus.
- Optus is waiting for “regulatory requirements” – whatever that means. Given RCS is a ratified GSM standard, this sounds a like it will happen… eventually, maybe.
- Telstra’s response says it needs to collaborate with partners to bring RCS to customers.
It seems to me that RCS is a low priority for all three carriers. The standard has been around since 2016 – that’s almost a decade. iPhone support for RCS was part of iOS 17, released in 2024. And Google’s Android operating system has supported RCS since around 2019.
The carriers are holding back a feature that would make using a smartphone a much better experience for all users. Not just iPhone users but every smartphone user in the country.
They need to do better.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.