RCS on iOS

[shortbread]

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.

[PaulLLoydJohnso]

Hello, I would also like an update on this. I have had some horrific discussions with support on this where I am being given such contrasting information. I just want to know for sure that RCS is coming and when. If it is never coming (like visual voicemail) please just say so and I can go elsewhere.

[MSF]

@shortbread  I think that this has dragged on for some time.

Wouldn’t WhatsApp achieve the results you want without the bother of changing?

[PaulLLoydJohnso]

I personally want to quit WhatsApp any other Meta service. RCS is supposed to be the future of messaging. It's crazy that Smarty isn't supporting it straight away.

[shortbread]

@MSF no, one of the main benefits of RCS is not having to use a third party application to benefit from modern messaging features. This is a replacement/evolution of SMS, not an alternative to WhatsApp. Also, I personally don't trust or like Meta as a company.

This hasn't really dragged on at all. RCS for iOS only launched in the UK in November/December last year. If Smarty is a modern carrier, it should be perfectly capable of supporting RCS. The lack of communication is a tad concerning, though.

[MSF]

@shortbread  Dragged on = been a number of months without visible signs of progress.

same as a number of the other “Ideas” posted e.g. esim, short code numbers

[PaulLLoydJohnso]

Any update on this please? @YulianK 

[PaulLLoydJohnso]

Hi @YulianK and @Rebekah_150

Can we please get an update on when RCS will be available on iOS?

[shortbread]

So given that smarty marked the Short Codes suggestion as "investigating" in June 2024, and finally launched them in March 2025, that suggests we'll need to wait a considerable long time for RCS.

I'll stick around on smarty for now, as I'm an android user so this doesn't impact me. But I've already started the process to move my elderly mother back to another carrier because iOS users are being negatively impacted by the lack of RCS support by Smarty. To be honest, the lack of communication and the general feeling of unpreparedness (we knew iOS would support RCS for over a year before release) makes me rethink sticking with Smarty.

I appreciate this is a value brand but you've gotta keep up with modern standards and features. Short codes are hardly new....