RCS Messaging Officially Rolls Out to iPhone Users on Google Fi with iOS 18.4 Update
In a landmark update bridging the long-standing messaging gap between Android and iPhone, Apple has quietly activated RCS (Rich Communication Services) support for Google Fi users on iOS, starting with iOS 18.4. A notification received by users this week confirms that RCS can now be enabled through a quick toggle in Settings, signaling a major step forward for modern, cross-platform messaging.
What is RCS and Why It Matters
RCS is the next-generation messaging protocol that replaces traditional SMS and MMS. It offers features comparable to iMessage or WhatsApp, including:
• Typing indicators
• Read receipts
• High-resolution image and video sharing
• Seamless group chats
• End-to-end encryption (depending on implementation)
Until now, iPhone users have been limited to using these features within iMessage or third-party apps. Messages between iPhone and Android users defaulted to SMS/MMS, often leading to degraded image quality and broken group chats.
Google Fi and Apple: A Quiet Alliance
This rollout is especially significant for Google Fi, Google’s MVNO cellular service. Historically, iPhones on Google Fi had access to basic network functionality but lacked deeper integration. The introduction of RCS on iOS for Google Fi users represents the first instance of enhanced carrier-grade messaging being made available on iPhones—effectively bridging a feature divide that’s existed for years.
To activate RCS, users must:
1. Upgrade to iOS 18.4
2. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging
3. Toggle the setting to enable modern messaging features
This makes Google Fi one of the first carriers to explicitly support RCS on iPhone.
A Turning Point in Messaging Wars
Apple has long resisted RCS, favoring its proprietary iMessage ecosystem. However, increasing regulatory pressure in the U.S. and Europe, along with persistent lobbying by Google and Android OEMs, may have influenced Apple to adopt a more open stance—at least partially.
Although Apple has not yet rolled out RCS universally for all carriers, the move to support RCS on Fi devices is a hint of broader adoption to come. Google has publicly celebrated the move, promoting cross-platform equity in messaging.
What’s Next?
It remains to be seen whether Apple will eventually integrate RCS into the default iMessage app for all users and carriers. But for now, iPhone users on Google Fi are at the forefront of a messaging evolution—able to enjoy richer, more reliable communication with Android users without compromising on platform.
The RCS rollout, paired with Apple’s latest OS update, is not just a technical upgrade—it’s a signal of a shifting strategy in Cupertino, and a potential preview of what universal messaging could look like in a post-SMS world.