RCS stands for Rich Communication Services, the industry standard that upgrades old SMS texting with typing indicators, read receipts, high-quality photos and videos, and better group chats. It works in the phone's built-in messaging app on Android and, since iOS 18, on iPhone too, so texts between the two are no longer stuck with basic SMS.
If you've noticed your phone suddenly showing when an Android friend is typing, or photos to iPhone friends arriving sharp instead of blurry, that's RCS at work. GSMA, the mobile industry body, describes RCS as modernising traditional SMS by introducing features like group chats, file sharing and read receipts, directly through people's native messaging apps. Here's what it means in plain terms, what changes for you, and why it matters if you send texts as a business.
RCS vs SMS vs iMessage
Apple's support page explains that the Messages app on iPhone now sends messages in one of three ways, and the colour of the bubble tells you which:
| Type | Who it reaches | What you get | Bubble on iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|
| iMessage | Other Apple devices | Rich media, receipts, typing, end-to-end encryption | Blue |
| RCS | Android phones and iPhones | High resolution photos and videos, links, receipts, typing indicators | Green |
| SMS/MMS | Any phone | Basic texts, photos and videos | Green |
So green doesn't mean basic any more. A green bubble can be RCS, with typing dots and read receipts, or old-style SMS. RCS only kicks in when both sides support it, and your phone falls back to SMS when they don't.
What changed when iPhone added RCS
Apple says that to use RCS you need iOS 18 and a text-messaging plan from a carrier that supports RCS on iPhone. Google's Messages site puts the result simply: with RCS enabled across Android and iOS, you can share high-quality photos and videos with iPhone friends and enjoy better group chats. Google adds that RCS lets you name group chats, add or remove people and leave a group, whichever device everyone's using.
For anyone in a mixed group of Android and iPhone users, that's the big change: fewer blurry videos, fewer broken group threads, and the same typing and read indicators people were used to in other chat apps.
Encryption: the part people get wrong
Here's the detail most explainers skip. Apple notes that starting with iOS 26.5, end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging is available in beta with supported carriers, rolling out over time, and a conversation is only encrypted when all participants' carriers support it. When it's encrypted, the chat shows "Encrypted" with a lock icon at the top. If you don't see that indicator, Apple says your RCS messages aren't protected from a third party reading them in transit.
Google, meanwhile, says end-to-end encryption is enabled by default for conversations between Google Messages users. So don't assume every RCS chat is private in the same way. Check for the lock.
What RCS looks like in everyday chats
Most people never switch RCS on deliberately. It just appears. On Android, the Google Messages compose bar shows how your message will send: by Wi-Fi or mobile data when RCS is working, or by SMS or MMS when it's not. Google's help page explains that if a message fails to send over data, you can choose to resend it another way. It also warns that if you pick "SMS with a link", your photo or video could be reachable through a public link that Google doesn't control.
For everyday users, the practical upshot is simple. Typing dots and read receipts are back in mixed chats, but you can switch read receipts off in settings if you'd rather people didn't see when you've read their message. Google's help page shows the steps under RCS chats in Messages settings, and the other person needs read receipts turned on too before you'll see theirs.
Turning RCS on without losing group chats
- On iPhone, RCS is set up through your carrier. Apple says activation can take a few hours.
- On Android, open Google Messages, tap your profile picture, then Messages settings, then RCS chats.
- Check the status. "Connected" means you're ready; "Connecting" means your number's still being verified.
- Google says if it's stuck for more than 30 minutes, tap Details and submit feedback.
- Leave it switched on. Google warns that turning RCS chats on and off removes you from group chats.
On cost, Google says RCS chats typically don't cost users extra, because they use your Wi-Fi or mobile data plan, though standard text rates might apply when your carrier verifies your number during setup. Apple also notes that RCS is a carrier-provided service, so availability depends on your network and region.
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Why RCS matters for businesses that send texts
This is where RCS gets interesting for small businesses. GSMA says businesses can use RCS for marketing, customer engagement and event communication, offering rich, interactive messages in a branded environment. Google's RCS for Business programme describes reaching customers on Android and iOS with distinctive branding and rich media, measuring engagement with read receipts and analytics, and building trust with a "Verified" icon.
In practice, that means a text from a brand can look less like a mystery number and more like a conversation: your logo, images, and buttons instead of a bare link. GSMA is also honest about the hurdles, naming client verification and interconnection between RCS providers as challenges. You usually reach RCS for Business through a messaging provider rather than switching it on yourself.
My advice if you text your customers
If you already send appointment reminders or offers by text, ask your provider whether they support RCS for Business and the verified sender badge. Being recognisable in someone's inbox does a lot for trust, especially with so much text scam noise around. Keep the same rules you'd follow for SMS: only message people who've agreed to hear from you, keep it short, and make opting out easy. If you're new to this, start with my plain guide to how SMS marketing works for a small business, and if you also handle customers in DMs, see how the business chat label in Instagram DMs works.
Frequently asked questions
What does RCS stand for?
RCS stands for Rich Communication Services, the industry standard that upgrades SMS texting.
Does iPhone support RCS?
Yes. Apple says you need iOS 18 and a carrier that supports RCS on iPhone.
Why are my RCS messages still green on iPhone?
On iPhone, both RCS and SMS messages appear in green bubbles. Only iMessage is blue.
Is RCS messaging encrypted?
It can be. Apple says encrypted RCS needs iOS 26.5 and carriers that support it for everyone in the chat.
Does RCS cost extra?
Google says RCS chats typically don't cost extra because they use Wi-Fi or mobile data.
