Google’s bid to boost RCS (Rich Communication Services) adoption has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of end-to-end encryption between Android and iPhone devices. The tech giant has long advocated for the adoption of RCS as a secure alternative to SMS, but its efforts were stymied by the lack of interoperability with Apple devices.

As RCS technology rolls out on iPhones, Google is pushing forward with new possibilities, including cross-platform end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for seamless communication between Android and iPhone users.

According to the GSMA’s governing physique, the next significant milestone involves developing the RCS Common Profile, which aims to incorporate fundamental consumer safeguards, including interoperable end-to-end encryption capabilities. 

“This marks the inaugural deployment of standardized, interoperable messaging encryption, bridging disparate computing platforms by overcoming critical technical hurdles such as key federation and cryptographic group membership verification.” Customers will benefit from enhanced safeguards against scams, fraudulent activities, and various security risks.

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Google has announced it is collaborating with the wider ecosystem to bring end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to RCS chat conversations as soon as possible. The Google Messages app on Android currently offers its own E2E encryption, but this does not extend to iPhone chats.

Since 2020, we’ve been committed to delivering end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in Google Messages with RCS. We believe that end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a vital component of secure messaging, and we’ve collaborated with the wider ecosystem to bring cross-platform E2EE to RCS chats at the earliest opportunity. Google is committed to providing a secure and personalized messaging experience for users, relentlessly working towards making end-to-end encryption (E2EE) standard for all RCS users across any platform.

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Last year, Google outlined its plans to support interoperable end-to-end (E2E) encryption in messaging services.

When Apple announced its plan to bring RCS (Rich Communication Services) to the iPhone, it emphasized the importance of collaborating with GSMA members to integrate encryption into the protocol’s standard features.

Meanwhile, Google has announced that it is working “headlong” to integrate Apple’s messaging capabilities, allowing users to respond to media, engage in group chat conversations, and more. The RCS protocol was officially finalized in June, introducing two key enhancements:

• Enabling users to respond to and react to dispatched and received messages through customizable reaction options.
• “To enable the original message sender to edit, recall, or delete messages sent to themselves and intended recipients.”