The Biggest Updates Coming to Apple’s iMessage and Messages App in iOS 18
Apple’s latest update, iOS 18, has been making waves with its exciting new features. While many are focusing on the AI emoji and Genmoji, there are two significant updates that will have a lasting impact on how we communicate: scheduling messages to send at a later date and time, and support for RCS (Rich Communication Services), the next-gen messaging standard.
Scheduling Messages with Ease
For years, consumers have been demanding a feature to schedule messages, but it has only been available through complicated workarounds or apps that require jailbreaking. The new iOS 18 update finally brings this feature as built-in functionality. Users can now select a message and choose the date and time they want it to be sent.
This feature is particularly useful for businesses and individuals who need to communicate with others across different time zones. No longer will you have to worry about sending messages at inconvenient times or forgetting important texts. The new scheduling feature also allows users to plan their messages in advance, ensuring that they don’t miss sending someone a birthday greeting or other special occasion message.
RCS: The Future of Messaging
In addition to the scheduling feature, iOS 18 introduces support for RCS, which will revolutionize the way we text with Android users. For years, Google has been urging Apple to adopt this standard, and it seems that their efforts have finally paid off. With RCS, messages will be end-to-end encrypted, making them more secure than ever before.
RCS also offers features such as typing indicators, read receipts, and group chats, which are currently missing from the iMessage experience when texting with Android users. This update addresses many of the grievances that Android users have had with the green bubble problem.
What Does RCS Mean for iOS Users?
While RCS will improve the messaging experience for both iOS and Android users, there’s a catch: Messages sent via RCS won’t be relieved of the green bubble curse on Apple devices. However, this doesn’t mean that Android users will lose any functionality; instead, their texts with someone will support both "Text message + RCS" in light gray font.
However, issues that make the Messages app a broken experience for Apple’s customers will be addressed as Apple says it will support end-to-end encryption in the Universal Profile for RCS later this year. This update is likely why there was no mention of encrypted messaging in Apple’s announcement of RCS.
Why Now?
So, what led to Apple’s decision to adopt RCS and schedule messages at a later date and time? It’s likely that the additional scrutiny from EU regulators and U.S. lawmakers’ interest in Apple’s shutdown of Beeper, a third-party app that brought iMessage to Android users, influenced their decision.
Conclusion
The new updates coming to Apple’s iMessage and Messages app in iOS 18 are exciting developments for consumers and businesses alike. The ability to schedule messages at a later date and time will make communication easier than ever before, while support for RCS will revolutionize the way we text with Android users.
While there may be some limitations to the new features, it’s clear that Apple is committed to improving the messaging experience for its users. With these updates, iOS 18 takes a significant step forward in terms of user experience and functionality.
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