Apple partners with Jio to bring RCS messaging to iPhones in India: What it means for users

Apple has collaborated with Reliance Jio to roll out the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging for iPhone users in India, with an aim to reshape how people communicate using smartphones, according to the Economic Times report. For the unversed, the feature, which enables iMessage-style “blue tick” texts, will allow Jio subscribers to share high-resolution photos and videos, receive read receipts, and engage in group chats all via mobile data or WiFi. The users will not need to pay any charges to access this service.

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RCS was introduced by the telecom industry body GSMA in 2007 and was developed as the successor to SMS. Unlike traditional text messages, RCS brings more advanced communication features that are already available with apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Telegram. It offers features like file sharing, typing indicators, interactive messages, and end-to-end encryption when both parties use the service.

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However, the RCS provides more security. The protocols in place reduce exposure to spam and phishing when compared to SMS, which is an important development as India grapples with rising cases of digital fraud. For many users, the increased security and convenience may make RCS a more dependable option for daily messaging.

Another thing the RCS can do is reduce India’s reliance on various instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, which currently dominates the country’s messaging ecosystem. With Jio’s massive subscriber base of over 490 million, RCS adoption has the potential to rapidly scale, bringing it in line with other global markets where the technology is already gaining traction.

In the meantime, Apple has officially announced the iPhone 17 series launch date. The tech giant is going to launch the next-generation devices on September 9 globally. The customers can watch it live at 10:30 PM IST.

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Ashish Singh

Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile