RCS: 1&1 releases messaging protocol on iPhone
Those who make calls with the United Internet subsidiary could not use the universal communication service under iOS until now. It is now possible.
Google Message and Apple iMessage: Bidirectional communication with multimedia elements.
(Image: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com)
With iOS 18, Apple already laid the groundwork for Rich Communication Service, or RCS, support in the fall of last year. However, the successor to SMS with multimedia capabilities was not automatically activated at the time. Instead, mobile carriers had to enable it on the respective device via carrier settings. This happened quite quickly for Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefonica / O2, but not for the provider 1&1. The United Internet subsidiary, which is currently expanding its own 5G network, apparently still struggled with technical difficulties. In January 2025, it was stated to Mac & i that they were working "on the implementation." The work is now complete: As 1&1 announced on Monday, RCS has now been officially released.
It doesn't work without iOS 26
As the company writes, there is a catch: RCS only works with the carrier if users have previously updated to iOS 26.2. Those who want to stay on iOS 18 due to the controversial new Liquid Glass design are therefore not allowed to participate. Why new carrier settings are not sufficient, as was known from other mobile network providers, remained unclear at first.
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"In order for the RCS function to be used on Apple devices, customers in the 1&1 mobile network must install the update to iOS 26.2. After the update, RCS is usually activated immediately and without user intervention," a 1&1 spokeswoman told Mac & i. The fact that activation is still required suggests that, despite iOS 26.2, a carrier update is also taking place. The user does not see this; it is installed in the background.
Implemented in its own network
According to 1&1, RCS is implemented in its own network. It is "a usual process for us as a mobile provider to work with device manufacturers so that their software versions are optimally matched to our network infrastructure." This is intended to enable an "optimal user experience." For RCS on Android devices, 1&1 implements it via "a new authentication system from Google," where data exchange takes place "between the end device and the Google guest server," not in the 1&1 network, according to the company.
Meanwhile, there is still waiting for end-to-end encryption of RCS on the iPhone. While Android devices communicate with each other protected via the Google Messaging app, Apple will only implement this later. This would be possible, among other things, via RCS 3.0 or MLS for RCS. Cross-platform data traffic between iOS and Android would particularly benefit from this.
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