iPhone iOS18 RCS messages

[Stephen_2607686]

Hey everyone, I’ve updated to ios18 on my iPhone 14PM , which means I should be able to rcs across to my android buddies! But I can’t (yet) there is nothing in settings I can see.

what gives? Is it carrier specific? 

[MSF]

@Stephen_2607686  If you check it out carefully, you will see that it needs your network carrier to support that system. Currently Smarty does not (I think it may only be EE at the minute).

[RovingRaspberry]

At the moment, just a couple of days after iOS 18.0 was released, its only MNOs worldwide that are currently supporting this, and even then, not all MNO's, with MVNO's and sub brands being some months away from supporting this.

I wouldnt expect this situation to chsnge until Q1 of 2025 at the earliest.

[PhilC_2682298]

RCS is available with SMARTY on my Samsung S24 Ultra, pop the SIM in my iPhone 15 Pro Max ... No dice for RCS ????

[WelshPaul]

That's because you're using Samsung or Google RCS when on Android. 

[AndrewM_1740060]

This doesn’t give any indication that Samsung and Google are the only routes to using RCS on SMARTY:

https://smarty.co.uk/blog/rcs-messaging/?srsltid=AfmBOor8wgYKH9wfM2gA60WcobDkz7qH2eG8g20IhxVZxYSSGDd... 

[KizzyCatwoman]

Yes because RCS is a Google/Android messaging protocol that Apple has reluctantly adopted after pressure from the EU. Android uses the Google or Samsung RCS servers to operate but Apple has made the protocol and servers carrier specific. 

[AndrewM_1740060]

In Smarty’s case, it’s nothing to do with carrier support of RCS as they already allow it, at least via Google Messages.

The issue is that carriers must issue an updated iOS carrier settings file that lets the iPhone know they support RCS. It will literally be one tiny attribute and value key pair to enable it and it should be ignored by older iPhones. I don’t yet understand why providers who already support RCS on Android haven’t updated their carrier settings yet. I guess it’s a rare task to update the carrier settings. Maybe the skilled staff have moved on since the last change. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[KizzyCatwoman]

I often get carrier settings updates on my Pixel through the Play Store. So they clearly have staff that can do it

[Alexand_18005]

Now that support from Three is imminent, does that mean SMARTY will also?

https://9to5mac.com/2024/11/28/uk-carrier-three-supporting-rcs-for-iphone-users-from-next-month/

[SmartyTrousers]

I'd have thought so, as Smarty uses Three's carrier profile on the iPhone.

[AndrewM_1740060]

We should receive a notification when SMARTY updates the carrier settings.

We can also force a check-in for new settings simply by browsing the Settings->General->About screen.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/109324 

[KizzyCatwoman]

Yes. Currently only EE has access to RCS from iPhone to Android in the UK

[jonnyphone]

If you're on iOS 18.2 public beta, you now get the RCS Messaging option within Settings->Messages on SMARTY (carrier profile Three 60.5.4 required). Good luck getting it to work though, mine just remains stuck on "waiting for activation...".

[marvbloke]

I'm in the same boat 'waiting for activation...' 

Any ideas how long I should be waiting? It's been about 24 hours so far...

[MSF]

@marvbloke @jonnyphone  Mine has said that for a long time now.

I'm thinking that it will work once the network is set up to offer it, but not before.

[PaulLLoydJohnso]

Is there any update on this? Three now supports RCS on iOS18

[ScottBa_2256779]

I’m curious for this as well. Checking daily in the settings app to see if it’s been activated 

[Rebekah_150]

Hey  PaulLLoydJohnso

we are looking into this currently and doing some test but it is being looked into when i have more details for you I will let you know.

[PaulLLoydJohnso]

Is there any update on when this will be available please? Three is now offering it 

[TheHomerSimpson]

I would love to know when this goes live please. 

[MSF]

@TheHomerSimpson  Given that Smarty has not yet decided to support short code texts, I think you may be waiting some considerable time if it is something that's important to you.

[Joshua27756]

If you don't turn it on by midnight I'm going to squirt 😫

[MSF]

@Joshua27756  Thank you for your valuable contribution to this thread.

When you talk about "If you don't...." has it occurred to you that we are not Smarty employees, but forum members and customers ?

[Joshua27756]

I was talking to the smarty people who will hopefully read my message and turn it on 🙂🤞🏼

[MSF]

@Joshua27756 They won't. One or two Smarty staff act as moderators here, but they will refer you to the smarty Support team on virtually every occasion. For a start, they do not have your personal details here and I'm not sure they can directly access them.

[Joshua27756]

Well it's not impossible so thought I'd give it a shot. They don't need my personal details 😊 @Smarty turn RCS you silly sausages!

[nonono]

It's the middle of March - 2 months since the last response. And still nothing???

[MSF]

@nonono  May I refer you to the issue of short code text messages; that took far in excess of 2 months to get a response, so I think you may need a load of patience here.

[MikeXMichaels]

I was excited to learn of RCS messaging support on iOS that was released today.

Although I already use RCS Messaging with other android users though my Pixel on Smarty network, my family who have updated to iOS 18 cannot yet use it.

The option to enable it in the iphone message settings is not yet there and lots of chatter on the internet suggest that only EE in the UK support it at the moment. 

Has anyone got this working on smarty and know of any update on when this might be available?

[RovingRaspberry]

RCS has to be supported by mobile networks. 

If the option is not currently available, which it isnt for me either, then thats because Smarty does not currently supoort it. As for when or if they will, as this is a community forum for smarty customers who do not work for Smarty, we wont know

[MikeXMichaels]

RCS is supported by Smarty if you have an android, but it appears not if you have an iPhone. You'd think once you have the infrastructure in place to support a protocol it wouldn't matter what type of device was using it. 

[AudiTrucker]

Quite right it’s not supported by Smarty or Three network as yet, only BT and EE have this support for IPhones. Think Smarty and Three (Same Network)  were a bit slow in implementing this. Apple did say months and months ago it was gonna do this when iOS 18 comes out, so Smarty get your act together and sort it out 

[Jamze]

I thought RCS needed servers. Google and Samsung have provided these i think,  but Apple has left it to the mobile providers to do.

[MSF]

@MikeXMichaels  Forgive me if I'm being dumb here.

With iPhone, when you message someone, you can see when it is delivered, when it is read and when they are typing. A Google search for the meaning of RCS suggested much the same features.

[MSF]

@MikeXMichaels  Forgot to say....this currently works with Smarty.

[KizzyCatwoman]

It has not been enabled in the U.K. for Smarty as yet. I put an WE SIM card in during the beta testing and it works on EE. Just waiting for Smarty to enable it their end. Hopefully it will not be too long. RCS allows you to send pictures and videos to people on iPhones and from iPhones to Android phones. This is not supported via normal text messaging on Smarty as yet. Except via the old Mamas protocol which costs extra money. 

[KizzyCatwoman]

I typed EE SIM card and it was changed to We by autocorrect. 

[MSF]

@KizzyCatwoman  Fair enough! Thanks for that. Most of the people with whom I'm in contact for pictures etc use iPhone and so it has not been an issue.

[RovingRaspberry]

Basically as @KizzyCatwoman said, RCS will bring the imessage functionality that you outlined to cross platform messages between iPhone and Android.

At the moment, just a day after iOS 18.0 was released, its only MNOs worldwide that are currently supporting this, and even then, not all MNO's, with MVNO's and sub brands being some months away from supporting this.