The Evolution of Messaging: RCS on iOS 18
Do you recall the #GetTheMessage campaign driven by Google to encourage Apple to embrace modern messaging protocols? Fast forward to the arrival of iOS 18, where Apple has finally “gotten the message”by integrating Rich Communication Services (RCS).This significant update introduces features such as typing indicators, high-resolution images, and read receipts into the green bubble texting experience.
As of May 2023, Google reported a remarkable milestone: over 1 billion RCS messages are exchanged daily. In this landscape of rapid evolution, another highly anticipated capability is beginning to roll out—the ability to edit a message after it has been sent.
All About The Editing Feature
Recent observations by vigilant users, such as Android Authority’s Mishaal Rahman, have unveiled a new pencil icon appearing next to sent messages, signaling the arrival of this editing feature. Users will have a limited window of 15 minutes to make edits to their messages. The editing process is straightforward on Android devices: simply long-press the message you wish to modify, select the edit icon, make your corrections, and then resend the updated message.
A Note on Compatibility
However, there is an important caveat to this feature. When an iPhone user receives an edited message, they won’t see the original text updated. Instead, they will receive an entirely new text message containing the edited content, with an asterisk preceding it to denote that a change has occurred. This differs from the experience on Android devices, where the edited message simply updates with an “Edited”label.
The differing behavior stems from the technical framework of RCS. Apple’s initial implementation of RCS in iOS 18 was based on an earlier version of the standard that lacked a clear protocol for message editing. The new editing feature aligns with the updated RCS Universal Profile 3.0, which Google is currently deploying.
Future Improvements on the Horizon
At present, Google is testing this feature among a limited user base, so full availability may take some time. For seamless functionality across all devices, Apple will need to upgrade its software to fully integrate the latest RCS standards.
While no official timeline has been provided for this upgrade, industry insights suggest it could coincide with the anticipated cross-platform end-to-end encryption that both Google and Apple have committed to supporting.
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