The joint implementation of RCS messaging by Google and Apple is a breakthrough in mobile communications. The new standard is intended to replace outdated SMS and MMS, offering better quality and security.
To clarify: RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages are a modern communication standard, the successor to SMS/MMS, operating over the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
Apple and Google introduce RCS encrypted messages between Android and iPhone
As explained by android.com.pl, Apple and Google have agreed on RCS messages encrypted in End-to-End mode, which will work between iOS and Android platforms.
The mentioned end-to-end encryption guarantees that only the sender and recipient can see the content of the message – even the operator or platform owner does not have access to it.
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“When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, they cannot be read while in transit between devices,” Google explains in a company blog post.
“Google Messages users will know that a cross-platform conversation is end-to-end encrypted when they see the same lock icon previously used in RCS chats. Encryption is enabled by default and will be automatically enabled for new and existing RCS chats over time,” Google explains.
Google and Apple are strengthening cooperation
The announced changes to RCS encrypted messaging will be available to Apple customers after updating to iOS 26.5. As android.com.pl notes, no operator in Poland – Play, Plus, Orange or T-Mobile – yet supports this function on iPhones. RCS will be enabled by default once carriers pass Apple certification.
For now, Polish operators do not offer RCS on iOS, but work on implementation is ongoing. As soon as they pass Apple certification, the new standard will also become available to Polish users.
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In January 2026, Apple announced a multi-year partnership with Google in which Gemini models will become the basis for the next generation of the Siri voice assistant. This deal shows Apple's strategic shift towards Google technology, recognizing Gemini as the most advanced foundation for the development of its AI features, such as a more personalized Siri.
