Business
Apple just closed a major gap between iPhone and Android messaging
Encrypted RCS messaging is rolling out between iPhone and Android users through Apple’s iOS 26.5 beta update. The feature adds end-to-end encryption to cross-platform chats using GSMA Universal Profile 3.0 standards. The rollout comes as regulators and telecom providers increase focus on messaging interoperability and mobile privacy protections worldwide.
Apple has started rolling out encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices, expanding end-to-end encryption protections for cross-platform chats through supported carriers and updated messaging standards globally.
Key Highlights
- Encrypted RCS messaging now supports conversations between iPhone and Android devices.
- Apple introduced the feature through the iOS 26.5 beta rollout for supported carriers.
- The update uses GSMA Universal Profile 3.0 and Messaging Layer Security standards.
- More than one billion monthly active users now access RCS messaging globally, according to GSMA estimates.
Encrypted RCS messaging is beginning to roll out between iPhone and Android users through Apple’s iOS 26.5 beta update, adding end-to-end protection to conversations that previously lacked the same security as iMessage or Signal chats.
The update arrives as telecom providers and device makers face growing scrutiny over mobile privacy standards and messaging interoperability. Apple said the feature will expand gradually across supported carriers and compatible devices.
The ‘Green Bubble’ Divide Gets Smaller
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is the modern messaging standard replacing SMS. It supports typing indicators, read receipts, high-resolution media sharing, and larger group chats.
Apple introduced RCS support on iPhones in 2025, but messages exchanged between iPhones and Android devices still lacked end-to-end encryption. The latest rollout changes enable encrypted RCS messaging for cross-platform conversations using GSMA Universal Profile 3.0 standards.
Google Messages on Android must be updated to the latest version for encrypted RCS messaging to work. Encrypted chats display a lock icon confirming message protection during transmission.
Carriers and Regions Join the Rollout
Carrier support remains central to the rollout. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are among providers supporting the feature in early deployment stages, while testing has also appeared through European operators, including Orange and SFR.
The GSM Association announced Universal Profile 3.0 in 2025 to standardise secure RCS communication between different devices and networks. According to GSMA industry estimates, RCS messaging now serves more than one billion monthly active users globally.
The update is also relevant as regulators in several markets continue pushing major technology companies toward broader messaging compatibility and stronger privacy protections across platforms.
Messaging Security Moves Beyond Apps
Encrypted RCS messaging brings telecom-backed texting closer to services such as WhatsApp, Signal, and iMessage, which already offer end-to-end encryption by default.
Research firm StatCounter reported in early 2026 that iPhones account for more than half of smartphone usage in several English-speaking markets, while Android remains globally dominant. That split has kept cross-platform messaging compatibility under close industry attention.
Apple reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $391 billion in its latest filing, while Alphabet, Google’s parent company, reported annual revenue of about $350 billion.
FAQs
Q1. What is encrypted RCS messaging on iPhone and Android?
Encrypted RCS messaging protects cross-platform conversations so only senders and recipients can access message content.
Q2. Why is encrypted RCS messaging important?
The update adds stronger privacy protections to iPhone and Android conversations that previously lacked end-to-end encryption.
Q3. Which apps and devices support encrypted RCS messaging?
The feature supports iPhones running iOS 26.5 and Android devices using the latest version of Google Messages.
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