RCS Messaging Between iPhones and Samsung Phones to Become More Secure

In recent years, Google has been working to establish RCS as the standard for messaging. For this to succeed, Apple needed to adopt RCS on iPhones. A few months back, Apple introduced RCS with iOS 18. However, messaging between Android and iPhones using RCS lacked the level of security it required.

Finally, RCS messaging between Android and iPhone will be secure with end-to-end encryption.

End-to-End Encryption Coming to RCS Between Android and iOS (iPhone)

The GSM Association, which oversees the development of RCS, has published a new specification of RCS (Universal Profile 3.0) that allows end-to-end encryption to work across platforms. It means RCS messages sent and received between Android phones and iPhones will be end-to-end encrypted.

End-to-end encryption is a security system that prevents third parties, such as messaging app developers and network carriers, from viewing the contents of your messages. Earlier, RCS messages between Galaxy (or any other Android) phones and tablets were end-to-end encrypted, but through a custom implementation by Google.

RCS now features cross-platform end-to-end encryption through the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, implemented starting in September 2024. This advancement was made possible by collaboration between the GSMA, mobile operators, device manufacturers, and technology providers. Apple also contributed to bringing iMessage-level security to the RCS platform.

So, when will RCS end-to-end encryption come to Android and iPhones? On this matter, Apple said, “We will add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software updates.“

Google spokesperson Ed Fernandez told The Verge, “We’re excited to have this updated specification from GSMA and work as quickly as possible with the mobile ecosystem to implement and extend this important user protection to cross-platform RCS messaging.“

Apple has been slow to implement RCS support in the default iPhone messaging app, limiting it to select network carriers. Currently, RCS is only available on iPhones with a few carriers worldwide. Apple needs to speed up its rollout to include more networks.