Apple and Jio Collaboration
Apple has reportedly partnered with Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio to roll out Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging in India. If implemented, iPhone users on the Jio network will be able to access advanced features similar to iMessage, including read receipts in individual chats, typing indicators, high-resolution media sharing, and improved group messaging compared to traditional SMS and MMS. The report, however, does not specify a launch timeline for the service.
First Carrier Partnership in India
According to The Economic Times, this marks Apple’s first carrier partnership in India, signaling a push to drive adoption of interoperable messaging technology. The move could also challenge WhatsApp’s stronghold in the Indian messaging ecosystem, as RCS offers a native, system-level alternative.
What is RCS Messaging?
RCS, often described as the next-generation SMS standard, enables rich, cross-platform communication. Unlike SMS or MMS, it supports features such as:
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Typing indicators
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Read receipts
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High-resolution media sharing
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WiFi and mobile data support
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End-to-end encryption
Being an interoperable technology, RCS works seamlessly across carriers, devices, and operating systems, making it a universal upgrade over conventional text messaging.
History of RCS Technology
The technology was first introduced in 2008 by the GSM Association (GSMA) but remained largely underutilized until Google acquired Jibe Mobile in 2015, boosting its adoption on Android devices. Apple, however, resisted the technology, continuing to focus on its exclusive iMessage platform.
Pressure from regulatory frameworks like the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) eventually nudged Apple towards interoperability. In 2024, Apple finally integrated RCS Messaging into iPhones with the iOS 18 update.
Global Rollout and India’s Turn
Since then, Apple has gradually partnered with carriers to enable RCS in different regions. Currently, the service is available in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
If the latest reports hold true, India may soon join this list, with Reliance Jio becoming the first telecom operator in the country to support RCS for iPhone users.
