Apple is testing secure messaging between Android and iOS devices with iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4. The updates introduce end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, a security feature that is not currently available for cross-platform messaging. Apple has been working with the GSM Association to implement E2EE for RCS messages. iMessage, the messaging protocol for sending texts between iPhones, has long supported end-to-end encryption.
This will be great for secure communication with people who have yet to switch to Android
Biggest reason (iirc) its tied to Messages is because google’s RCS server (which was not bound to a carrier) was the only option for a long time and that server is tied to Messages. Now that carriers are running their own RCS to support iOS and some carriers have had their android users migrated over from googles servers, there’s much more incentive for apps other that Messages to support RCS.
And RCS is finally working again on GrapheneOS, eliminating a major excuse people use for why it’s just too hard to switch.
Yeah, but you still have to use messages, right?
Yes, but those married to RCS are clearly not concerned about that.
True, I was just kinda hoping maybe graphene had found a way around that, that I hadn’t heard about yet.
Rcs kinda sucks, but it would be nice to have it as an option. And messages isn’t an option for me, sooooo lol
Fingers crossed, gOS has said they are working on their own implementation.
Graphene is working on their own RCS app? Source on that?
Biggest reason (iirc) its tied to Messages is because google’s RCS server (which was not bound to a carrier) was the only option for a long time and that server is tied to Messages. Now that carriers are running their own RCS to support iOS and some carriers have had their android users migrated over from googles servers, there’s much more incentive for apps other that Messages to support RCS.