Apple's RCS messaging support expands to a lot of new carriers

In late 2023, Apple finally added RCS support for the iPhone. RCS – or Rich Communication Services – is a communications standard for messaging, supported by most Android phones, offering features like group chat, high-res image and video sharing, and typing indicators.

Apple's own Message has similar features, but they previously worked only when you texted another iPhone user; if you happened to be texting with someone using Android, a lot of the advanced features were missing.

At launch, however, the list of carriers that supported RCS on the iPhone was very short, and included just the largest carriers. Now, as noticed by 9to5Mac, Apple has updated the list of carriers that support RCS on the iPhone, and it's far more complete.

The full list is as follows:

• AT&T

• C Spire

• Consumer Cellular

• Cricket

• FirstNet

• H20 Wireless

• Metro by T-Mobile

• PureTalk

• Red Pocket

• Spectrum Mobile

• T-Mobile

• TracFone / Straight Talk

• US Cellular

• Verizon

• Visible

• Xfinity Mobile

The list is rounded out by Boost Mobile, which isn't listed for RCS support but it does support the standard, as long as you have an iPhone XS/XR or later with iOS 18.2 installed.

As you can see, there are still many carriers that don't have RCS messaging support for the iPhone. For example, Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile are notable omissions because they were acquired by T-Mobile in 2024 but do not yet have RCS support.

In Europe, the list is still pretty short, and support is completely absent in many countries. Here's the full list:

• Belgium - Base, Proximus, Telenet

• Finland - SFR, O2, Telekom, Vodafone

• Spain - Masmovil, Movistar, O2, Orange, Pepephone, Vodafone, Yoigo

• Ukraine - BT, EE