RCS with the iPhone: Not all carriers in Germany with support
Of the four major German carriers, three currently offer RCS support for the iPhone. You have to check with prepaid providers.
Google Message and Apple iMessage: Do they both love each other now thanks to RCS?
(Image: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com)
Google has been trying for years to persuade Apple to finally support the SMS successor Rich Communication Services (RCS). With iOS 18, which was released in September, the time has finally come: the Messages app on the iPhone can not only communicate via iMessage and Short Message Service, but also via RCS. The problem: the service doesn't work just like that, mobile phone providers have to support it. And unfortunately this is not yet the case across the board – not even in Germany.
No problem on Android, but a nudge is needed for the iPhone
Confusingly, this does not apply to Android, where all you need is a reasonably modern cell phone to start writing in the Google Messages app via RCS. However, specific carrier settings are required for the iPhone. These have already been sent to the devices by Telekom, Vodafone and O2 / Telefonica. However, anyone with a contract with the fourth and newest provider, 1&1 AG, will be disappointed: there is no support to date. “We are already working on a solution for iOS users so that the RCS function will be available soon,” the website states. However, there is currently no information on the timeline for this work. An inquiry as to what the specific problem is initially remained unanswered.
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To check which mobile operators support RCS, Apple has set up its website which lists the various features offered by carriers. In Germany, “RCS Messaging” is only listed for the carriers mentioned, 1&1 is missing. But RCS is not always offered in other countries either. In the worst-case scenario, you could lose contact when roaming and fall back to SMS. In addition, Apple only officially lists Telekom, Vodafone and O2 / Telefonica for Germany. Prepaid providers and MVNOs sometimes deliver their carrier settings. As long as the network operator is one of the three major mobile operators, RCS should work in principle, although there is always confusion in the support departments of individual companies. It therefore makes sense to contact your provider to be sure.
RCS is still insecure
RCS offers many advantages over SMS. For example, you can send audio messages, view read receipts, send images and videos in higher resolutions, see an indicator when the communication partner is typing and see emoji reactions (although not on media).
However, RCS on the iPhone is currently still insecure: unlike iMessage, there is no end-to-end encryption. This means that the carrier (or someone who can eavesdrop on the network, such as a Secret Service) can at least theoretically read what you type. You should be able to see whether RCS is working under “General”, “Info” and “Carrier” by tapping on “Carrier”. However, this information is currently not reliable: On an 1&1 iPhone, “RCS” appeared here, although there is no official support.
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