Following its announcement at WWDC earlier this month, Apple's iOS 18 continues to unveil new features with the Beta 2 update. Notably, this update introduces RCS (Rich Communication Services) support for iPhones, allowing users to send audio and large media files to Android users with enhanced messaging capabilities.
The RCS feature, initially absent in Beta 1, now includes a toggle in the Settings app, enabling select beta testers to utilize this functionality. Messages sent via RCS will display as "Text Message - RCS" in the conversation thread, maintaining compatibility with Android's messaging format.
However, widespread availability of the RCS toggle depends on carrier support. Currently, only a few carriers, such as AT&T and T-Mobile in the US, have updated their bundles to enable RCS on iPhones. Users of other carriers may not see the RCS toggle after installing Beta 2, as their carriers are yet to update their systems.
Apple's implementation of RCS in iOS 18 Beta 2 underscores its collaboration with carrier partners, who must update their bundles to fully enable RCS functionality across supported networks. If you don't see the RCS toggle in your Settings menu, it indicates that your carrier is still in the process of updating its systems to support RCS on iPhones.
As iOS 18 Beta testing progresses, more carriers are expected to roll out RCS support, ensuring broader access to enhanced messaging features on Apple devices in the near future.
