In a surprising move, Apple has announced its plans to adopt RCS (Rich Communication Services) in iOS starting next year. This shift comes as a departure from the traditional iMessage system and aims to introduce a more universal messaging standard that works on top of SMS.
For those unfamiliar with the peculiar preferences in the United States, the color of chat bubbles holds significant importance. In the US, blue chat bubbles are often associated with positive connotations, while green bubbles are considered less favorable. The reasons behind this color-coding phenomenon remain somewhat elusive, especially for those accustomed to platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger in Europe.
Despite the adoption of RCS, Apple made it clear that iMessage will persist as a distinct entity. An Apple spokesperson conveyed to 9to5Mac, “Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”
RCS is expected to bring a host of iMessage-like features to cross-platform messaging, enabling users on iPhones and Androids to enjoy read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality image and video sharing, location sharing, and more.
However, despite these advancements, the distinctive green bubbles associated with messages sent via SMS are likely to persist. So, while RCS promises a more feature-rich and interoperable messaging experience, it seems the color of chat bubbles will remain a uniquely American quirk in the realm of messaging preferences.
In a surprising move, Apple has announced its plans to adopt RCS (Rich Communication Services) in iOS starting next year. This shift comes as a departure from the traditional iMessage system and aims to introduce a more universal messaging standard that works on top of SMS.
For those unfamiliar with the peculiar preferences in the United States, the color of chat bubbles holds significant importance. In the US, blue chat bubbles are often associated with positive connotations, while green bubbles are considered less favorable. The reasons behind this color-coding phenomenon remain somewhat elusive, especially for those accustomed to platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger in Europe.
Despite the adoption of RCS, Apple made it clear that iMessage will persist as a distinct entity. An Apple spokesperson conveyed to 9to5Mac, “Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”
RCS is expected to bring a host of iMessage-like features to cross-platform messaging, enabling users on iPhones and Androids to enjoy read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality image and video sharing, location sharing, and more. However, despite these advancements, the distinctive green bubbles associated with messages sent via SMS are likely to persist.
So, while RCS promises a more feature-rich and interoperable messaging experience, it seems the color of chat bubbles will remain a uniquely American quirk in the realm of messaging preferences.
