This core iOS 18 feature doesn't work in Australia

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 19 September 2024

The latest version of iOS 18 - Apple's iPhone operating system - dropped this week, but Australians are missing out on a core feature: RCS.

RCS - short for Rich Communication Services - is effectively a fancier version of SMS and MMS. RCS allows users to send higher-quality photos and videos, see read receipts and typing indicators, and emoji reactions.

Apple's adoption of RCS is seemingly designed to make the texting experience between iPhone and Android users better. While it's not on par with the functionality available in iMessage, it's a big step up over standard SMS. It, for example, solves the problem of blurry photos when sent from one platform to the other.

Unfortunately, no Australian mobile providers currently support RCS messaging, so Aussie iPhone users (and their Android-touting friends) miss out on the better texting experience. WhistleOut reached out to Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone, and none of the telcos have a timeframe for the feature.

Vodafone was the only telco that has made a firm commitment.

"We are currently reviewing the implementation of RCS on iOS18 and are building it into our product roadmap," said a Vodafone spokesperson. "We will keep our customers updated as we firm up a launch date.”

A Telstra spokesperson told WhistleOut that it will continue to work with partners like Apple on enabling new features on its network.

"As support for new features such as RCS messaging are made available in Australia by our [device] partners, Telstra will explore the work needed to enable them for our customers," said the spokesperson.

An Optus spokesperson confirmed the feature currently isn't available and said to "check back on our website for any future updates on RCS on iPhone at Optus".

Android users texting other Android owners can send RCS messages when using the Google Messages app. Google's app enables RCS messaging in countries where telcos have yet to launch it.

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Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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