We knew that RCS was about to be included in iOS 18, but Apple has not revealed details about when and how it will be available. The first iOS 18 developer beta had code for a broken version of RCS hidden in it. However, that toggle may no longer be functional.

Some users have begun to notice that RCS is enabled on iPhones running the latest version of the iOS 18 developer beta. However, this feature seems to be tied to specific carriers, and it appears that only those with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon plans are currently able to send RCS messages.

This means that users of other carriers and MVNOs may have to wait a bit longer until Apple provides proper cross-messaging support for RCS.

According to Brandon Butch of The Apple Den, RCS was definitely not working until yesterday, perhaps someone at either Apple or the three carriers flipped a switch to enable RCS support in the iOS 18 beta. Butch also noted that videos and photos will be sent in "full quality," ending MMS' super-compressed stronghold on cross-platform file sharing.

Other screenshots on the X show that RCS messaging is labeled as "Text Message - RCS" and has read receipt and operation tap back/reaction. Another user claims that it works between iPhone and Android as well, since his mother, who uses Android, was able to read the message. That's a bit rude, but at least it shows the system is working. Presumably, the messages are encrypted as well, which is just not possible with the ancient SMS messaging system.

Of course, the bubbles are still green. But we already knew that would be the case, even though it would not make much sense to make unprotected SMS and encrypted RCS messages the same color.

If you have an Apple developer account, you can install the iOS 18 developer beta right now and play with RCS. As for the rest of us, we'll have to wait until the first public beta of iOS 18 launches, or wait until September when the final version of the software is expected to roll out, though we don't know when that will be. [But given that WhatsApp has replaced iMessage and RCS as the messaging service of choice in the rest of the world, it probably won't be that big of a deal.