Apple has introduced support for RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging protocol with the release of iOS 18, bringing a more feature-rich texting experience to iPhone users. Initially, only a handful of major carriers supported RCS, but in recent months, the list has grown significantly.
As of December 2024, 16 US carriers now offer RCS messaging on iPhones. These include AT&T, C Spire, Consumer Cellular, Cricket, FirstNet, H20 Wireless, Metro by T-Mobile, PureTalk, Red Pocket, Spectrum, T-Mobile, TracFone / Straight Talk, US Cellular, Verizon, Visible, and Xfinity Mobile.
However, it’s essential to note that RCS messaging is not yet universally available. Carriers like Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile still don’t support this feature. To find out if your carrier supports RCS on your iPhone, you can check Apple’s official list or consult your carrier’s website.
To enable RCS messaging, simply navigate to the Messages settings in your iPhone and look for the option to turn it on. The growing list of supporters suggests a positive trajectory for RCS adoption, but it will be interesting to see how this trend evolves in the coming months.
Source: https://www.neowin.net/news/rcs-messaging-expands-to-more-iphone-users-in-the-us