RCS is the modern version of SMS served over data/wifi. It improves security and allows you to group chat, send pictures/videos/voice notes for free without incurring MMS charges or having to use third-party apps like Facebook or Whatsapp.
It has been the standard on Android for many years, but Apple recently launched support for it in iOS 18 last year.
Due to the differences in how Apple and Google support RCS, iPhones require that carriers 'handle' the RCS protocol directly. Whereas on Android, Google handles the RCS chats for you. This means that Android users on UK carriers have enjoyed RCS for years, but UK carriers must do some work to support RCS on iOS.
Three UK promptly supported RCS on iOS in December 2024. This means Three customers on iOS devices can use and enjoy the benefits of RCS.
Smarty has yet to enable support for RCS on iOS, as of 18th February 2025. Someone did say in the forums that Smarty was actively investigating this in December, but we have not had any update since. Other UK carriers have swiftly done the work to enable RCS for iOS users, but there hasn't been an update on this from Smarty yet. I would really like some official acknowledging that this is coming soon, and ideally some realistic timescales to manage expectations.
This is quite an important feature for me because I moved my elderly mother over to Smarty to save costs, but she routinely sends me (an Android user) images or videos over MMS which incurs charges. I am giving Smarty another 4-6 weeks to acknowledge and confirm that proper RCS support is coming soon, or I'll be moving my mother to another carrier. I can imagine there's quite a few customers in a similar situation.
40 Comments
- Status changed:InvestigatingtoInvestigating
Status changed to Investigating. Will share an update here once the initial assessment is complete.
Any updates on RCS support ? Three PAYG has it...
jonnyphone Smarty normally create a new thread to shout out loud about any significant changes e.g. introduction of short code texts
RCS has been a feature on iOS, but has so far not been enabled on the SMARTY network. Please enable this feature to allow users with iPhones to use RCS messaging
Encrypted rcs chat beta has just landed on iOS. Please add this modern feature to your service. With thanks.
I posted this over a year ago, months after iOS supported RCS and Smarty has been silent on this issue.
They actually lost a customer because I moved my mother away from Smarty as a direct result of this (and the lack of short codes at the time). I'm unaffected as an Android user.
The truth is, Smarty does need to set up some infrastructure to support RCS and there is no legal requirement for Smarty to do so yet. This is Apple's fault, kinda, for not handling it themselves (Apple only begrudgingly supported RCS after pressure from Google and regulators). Smarty probably also makes a fair bit of money from accidental MMS charges and that would disappear overnight if they adopted RCS.
Unfortunately, if you want standard modern carrier features Smarty is not the carrier to join. You waited years and years for something as basic as Short Codes. I suspect RCS is still many years away on Smarty.
MMS should be free, if these help articles talking about MMS costs are correct:
It is really frustrating as Three network provide it and Smarty can do it easily. It is laziness.
KizzyCatwoman How do you know they can do it easily? Are you in mobile telecoms engineering? Laziness.....really??
Why is it of such great importance? It would be helpful to have a clear explanation.
Any indication that this might come with iOS 26? I’m going to assume it will launch when an iOS update occurs
How about iOS 27?
ScottBa_2256779 Status of this thread is still "Investigating", so that may roughly translate as "No" in real world speak. These changes do seem to take forever - I guess it is because there isn't any profit in it.
IOS 26.5 was released today with RCS support. “This update introduces support for end-to-end encrypted RCS (beta) messaging”
I contacted Smarty Chat to see when RCS is to be enabled and was given the following reply: “You’re right in the long term, RCS is intended to replace SMS/MMS but there is no mandate or hard deadline forcing carriers or MVNOs to enable it yet.”
Has there been an update on this recently at all?
SamFinl_1605779 You need to take into account that you are paying a price for a no-frills product and therefore it most likely will not provide exactly what you want.
Fair enough, I'd have called it more expectant. In that I expect standard features across the board and for service to maintain pace with the rest of the world, actually I'd go further - being in the UK I expect us to be leading along with other major 'western' nations but we're not, we're behind.
Until demanding or expectant customers speak out in numbers they won't do anything about it by the looks of things, I would have expected them to initiate this on their own, several years ago ahead of the demand to stay current and on par with the competition but now they're playing catchup and as you rightly say - the option is to go with another provider who does offer the services as a minimum but this doesnt help Smartie, it hurts them.
So the way I see it, I'm part of the solution speaking up rather than just 'making do'.
Good day sir/madam and I wish you well - enjoy this sun we're getting, that's a surprise blessing.
SamFinl_1605779 I was referring to your whole tone here - demanding.
Excuse me? What about my comment was rude? If you're referring to the *bleep* then I suggest you read the words either side of it, it's plainly obvious that the forum has automatically changed the shorthand name for "Richard" within the phrase "Every Tom, D & Harry" which as you'll know is common parlance in English.
Might want to check that and read it properly before attempting to take the moral high ground and chastise me for being 'rude'.
