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

[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...".