iOS 18 Brings RCS to Major Carrier iPhones, But Prepaid Plans Are Left Waiting

he messaging revolution has begun, but it's not reaching everyone equally. With the release of iOS 18, Apple has finally embraced Rich Communication Services (RCS), a move that promises to transform how iPhone and Android users communicate. But while iPhones connected to major carriers are reaping the benefits of this enhanced messaging experience, users on prepaid plans and MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) remain in the shadows, waiting for their upgrade.

This article dives deep into what RCS brings to the table, how it elevates cross-platform messaging, and why prepaid users are still waiting for their slice of the future. Let’s unravel the latest development in iOS 18 and its impact on the world of texting.

RCS: A Game-Changer for iPhone Users

Gone are the days of limited, bland SMS messages. With the introduction of RCS, users can now enjoy the luxuries of modern messaging, making texting between iPhones and Android devices feel almost like iMessage.

So, what exactly does RCS bring to the party?

• High-Quality Media Sharing: Say goodbye to pixelated photos and videos! RCS lets you share images and videos in their original quality.
• Typing Indicators: No more guessing—know when someone is typing a response.
• Read Receipts: See exactly when your message was read, bridging a key gap between Apple and Android communication.
• Enhanced Group Chats: RCS makes group messaging easier to navigate, with fewer broken threads and better management.

But there’s one notable caveat: unlike iMessage, RCS conversations between iPhones and Androids aren’t end-to-end encrypted. Privacy-conscious users might find this concerning, but the feature still offers a vast improvement over traditional SMS.

The RCS Rollout: Major Carrier iPhones Reap the Benefits

iPhones connected to the big three carriers—AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile—are the first to experience the new RCS magic. These users now enjoy rich, upgraded conversations when texting Android devices, transforming previously basic SMS exchanges into feature-rich interactions.

Here’s what you’ll notice right away:

• Messaging Over Wi-Fi: No need for cellular data, as you can send messages using Wi-Fi.
• No Compression Woes: Photos and videos look crisp, no matter the file size.
• Real-Time Interaction: Whether it’s seeing when someone is typing or knowing they’ve read your message, RCS keeps you in the loop.

This brings texting between iPhones and Androids closer to the smoothness of apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, minus the need to download a third-party app.

Prepaid Plans & MVNOs: Why Are They Left Behind?

While major carrier users are celebrating, iPhone users on prepaid plans and MVNOs are still waiting for their chance to experience RCS. This delay is frustrating for users of services like Mint Mobile, Google Fi, and Boost Mobile, who haven’t seen the same RCS upgrades.

For example, Google Fi—a Google-owned MVNO—currently does not support RCS for iPhone users, even when texting Android users on the same network. Despite Google’s vocal support for RCS adoption, it seems the ball is in Apple’s court to enable the feature across all carriers.

According to Google:

"Only Apple has the ability to enable RCS interoperability for iPhone users on Fi, and our hope is that they will do so in the near future.”

So, why the delay? According to Mint Mobile’s co-founder, the problem lies in the backend transition required for MVNOs to support RCS. This involves setting up relay APIs for messages and updating the carrier bundles that providers send to Apple. Unfortunately, this process is taking longer than expected, with some estimates suggesting that prepaid users may not see RCS until a future iOS update.

How to Check if RCS is Available on Your iPhone

Curious to know if RCS is available for your iPhone? You can easily check by following these steps:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Go to General and then select About.
3. Scroll to the Carrier line under your active SIM or eSIM.
4. Tap on Carrier until you see the IMS Status.
   • If it says "Voice & SMS," then RCS isn’t available yet.
   • If it says "Voice, SMS & RCS," congratulations! You’re already using RCS.

This quick check will let you know whether your carrier has enabled RCS, especially if you’re using an MVNO or prepaid plan.

What’s Next for iPhone Users on Prepaid Plans?

It’s clear that Apple has made strides by embracing RCS with iOS 18, but the road to full adoption is still paved with challenges. For users on prepaid plans, the wait is far from over, and it could be several more months before RCS becomes available on Google Fi, Mint Mobile, or Boost Mobile. This disparity is frustrating for those who rely on prepaid services for affordability but still want access to premium features.

For users on major carriers, however, the future of mobile messaging is already here. As the RCS rollout expands, we can expect more iPhone users to benefit from this enhanced cross-platform messaging protocol.

RCS: A Step Forward, But Not Without Flaws

As much as RCS brings to the table, it isn’t without its limitations. Unlike iMessage, RCS messages are not end-to-end encrypted, meaning that they’re more vulnerable to interception or hacking. This could be a sticking point for privacy-conscious users, especially in a world where data security is a growing concern.

Additionally, while RCS upgrades SMS messaging, it still doesn’t change the cultural distinction between iMessage (blue bubbles) and RCS/SMS (green bubbles). Apple’s decision to maintain this color coding is likely deliberate, keeping iMessage users within their walled garden. While RCS bridges the gap between iPhone and Android users, it’s not changing this key part of Apple’s ecosystem.

Conclusion

iOS 18 has ushered in a new era of mobile messaging by introducing RCS support for iPhones. While this is a win for users on major carriers, the exclusion of prepaid plans and MVNOs from this initial rollout leaves a significant portion of users still waiting for the upgrade. For these users, the promise of RCS remains tantalizingly out of reach, with no clear timeline for when they’ll join the party.

In the meantime, iPhone users lucky enough to have RCS-enabled can enjoy better media sharing, typing indicators, and read receipts when communicating with Android users. It’s not the complete messaging solution, but it’s a big step forward.