With iOS 18, Apple introduced support for RCS messaging, a new protocol that enhances the texting experience between iPhone and Android users. Unlike SMS, you can see read/delivered receipts, send larger files, and have typing indicators, features that were previously missing. At first, only the big three carriers supported RCS messaging. Since then, a lot more have joined in on the fun.
This list is based on information directly from Appleand will be updated as new carriers are added.
Supported carriers:
AT&T
Boost Mobile (requires iOS 18.2)
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
This is obviously far more than what we had at launch, which was primarily just AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. There’s a lot more support from MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators, ie small carriers) – but it still isn’t very complete.
Some notable exceptions from the list are Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, which have around 3 million subscribers in the US.
Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile are particularly interesting because they were both acquired by T-Mobile earlier this year, but seemingly T-Mobile hasn’t yet gotten around to supporting the feature on its new sub-brands.
Have you gotten to use RCS messaging with iOS 18 yet? What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.
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