Yes, but who cares?
Verizon willswitch to the RCS messaging platform next year, joining T-Mobile and AT&T.
All three carriers will use Android Messages, which supports RCS, as their default chat app.
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However, Apple already has an SMS alternativeiMessage.
“RCS will be a suitable modern chat system, provided that all carriers and handsets support it.
Samsung phones already have it built-in, and any Android phone can use RCS via Googles Android Messages app.
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RCS has several advantages over SMS.
RCS is also sent over the internet via Wi-Fi or cellular data.
The best thing about SMS is that its universally supported, like email.
you might send an SMS to anyone.
It doesnt matter what carrier or phone brand they are using.
But theres one significant downside to RCS as it is implemented today: Like SMS, it is unencrypted.
End-to-end encryption is coming, but it is not universal.
This means that it is open to interception.
Still, SMS is insecure, so RCS is no worse.
That only leaves Apple.
“Having that in mind, Apple doesnt want anything to do with RCSs challenges.”
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Apples iMessage also has considerable lock-in.
Its effectively an Apple-only social internet, one that is ever more deeply integrated into iOS and macOS.
And some people still pay to send SMS messages, so theres a cost involved with using them.
Its possible a third-party app could add RCS support to the iPhone, but whats the point of that?
Apple would have to be forced into this.
Apple doesnt want anything to do with RCSs challenges.
So far, weve talked about the US, whereas iMessage is worldwide.
Do We Even Need An SMS Replacement?
The other question is, do we need a replacement for SMS?
Its unencrypted, insecure, andsimjackingmakes SMS a terrible way to send two-factor (2FA) login authentication codes.
SMS is like email.
Its universally supported, its basic, and its fundamentally insecure.
It might also prove just as hard to kill.
Otherwise, what happens when you get a message from overseas?
Or when you travel and you have no data connection, how can you send a message?
Its a complex situation, but it seems like SMS may be around for a while yet.
