Sponsored Links

RCS UK Carrier Support for iOS

Apple are being malicious let's see how long that lasts.
Actually the exact opposite in this case. Apple have implemented by the book RCS, presumably to keep their Chinese customers happy, though the fact it took them so long is an issue.

Google decided to "embrace and extend" RCS a few years ago and made their client use Google's servers with propitiatory non-standard additions (such as end to end encryption) on networks with no RCS support. This of course only works between Android devices that use the Google Messaging app and works "over the top" of the networks in the same way Imessage does, rather than using the mobile network IMS as specified by the RCS standard. It does however make their client work for Android users on networks with no RCS support.

The ironic result of this was the networks then had no motivation to keep their own RCS servers running, as only Android devices were using RCS and Google were providing Android users with a messaging service for free. So the networks shut their RCS servers down while making a big song and dance about how this "improved" the service. Which to be fair it did, for Android users. But by doing this they then prevented any other devices using RCS on their networks including ASOP Android without Google Play.

So now they have to put RCS back into the IMS. :)
 
I believe the iOS carrier profile can point to Googles RCS (jibe?), and that is how VF plan to do it
It's the network IMS that needs to point to Jibe or Mavenir or the networks own servers etc. Once that's done then the IOS carrier profile can be updated, however I don't think carrier profile updates are the issue here (with the exception of some MVNOs that don't have their own).

Jibe is two things as Google bought the company a few years ago. Originally it was a standard RCS implementation which the networks could bolt in to their IMS. Then after Google bought it it was also used as the name for Google's not-quite-RCS servers for their Android client. I believe it may still exist for the networks to use in it's former state, however many will want or need to use a soultion from their IMS vendor or existing third party (such as Mavinir etc) and there are also GDPR and lawful intercept issues using a third party.
 
I believe the iOS carrier profile can point to Googles RCS (jibe?), and that is how VF plan to do it

for example:
View attachment 19309


Three will do the same as their Enhanced Chat is based on jibe.
jibecloud.net is I think Google's standards based cloud RCS service for network operators. The network still needs to add number routing to their IMS etc. In addition, if the servers are in the US they may not be legal under GDPR/UKGDPR.
 
Sponsored Links
My understanding is that as well as other small issues in the Apple RCS implementation, whilst RCS between iOS devices are end to end encrypted, RCS between iOS to Android are not (any one Android user in group).

Apple could fix this but apparently wants to be more involved in the RCS development and presumably less Google control.

Providers may adopt it fully when the main benefits of RCS are fully realised.
 
My understanding is that as well as other small issues in the Apple RCS implementation, whilst RCS between iOS devices are end to end encrypted, RCS between iOS to Android are not (any one Android user in group).

Apple could fix this but apparently wants to be more involved in the RCS development and presumably less Google control.

Providers may adopt it fully when the main benefits of RCS are fully realised.
How can Apple fix a network not having an RCS server?
 
My understanding is that as well as other small issues in the Apple RCS implementation, whilst RCS between iOS devices are end to end encrypted, RCS between iOS to Android are not (any one Android user in group).

Apple could fix this but apparently wants to be more involved in the RCS development and presumably less Google control.

Providers may adopt it fully when the main benefits of RCS are fully realised.
There are no "small issues" with Apple's RCS implementation that I'm aware of, would you care to elaborate?

RCS does not support end to end encryption. Google's messaging client has end to end encryption between Android devices when NOT using RCS, because it uses Google's not-quite-RCS protocol when using Google's servers to talk to other Google Messaging clients. There is no way for this to work to any non-Google devices, unless Google want to release their own not-quite-RCS app for IOS, which would defeat the whole purpose.

My understanding is the networks are rapidly trying to undo the removal of their RCS servers.
 
EEs server is already dodgy, issues such as it not working on WiFi, photos refusing to send, reactions not working properly etc.
Probably overload. It's had pretty much zero use for the last 5 years and now every updated Iphone on EE is trying to access it. :) It'll probably take them some time to scale things up.

Reactions is a different issue and wifi may have not have been implemented yet as it's a wifi calling thing.
 
Sponsored Links
There are no "small issues" with Apple's RCS implementation that I'm aware of, would you care to elaborate?

RCS does not support end to end encryption. Google's messaging client has end to end encryption between Android devices when NOT using RCS, because it uses Google's not-quite-RCS protocol when using Google's servers to talk to other Google Messaging clients. There is no way for this to work to any non-Google devices, unless Google want to release their own not-quite-RCS app for IOS, which would defeat the whole purpose.

My understanding is the networks are rapidly trying to undo the removal of their RCS servers.
well one issue is Stickers sent by iOS users to Android devices will disappear after a few seconds on the recipient's phone
 
jibecloud.net is I think Google's standards based cloud RCS service for network operators.
yes it is

The network still needs to add number routing to their IMS etc.
this should already be done if the network supports RCS via jibe for android users.

In addition, if the servers are in the US they may not be legal under GDPR/UKGDPR.
likely jibenet is an anycast and will pick the closest service
 
well one issue is Stickers sent by iOS users to Android devices will disappear after a few seconds on the recipient's phone
That shouldn't really work at all, as there's no mechanism in RCS to do it other than rendering as an image. So I'm quite impressed it even does that. :)
 
I will tell you what would drive adoption of RCS across all networks and that is if Enterprise customers wanted it and they probably dont give 2 hoots...

The UP used by Apple doesn't support a lot of features as its still an old version, so users will miss out on the latest bits and bats built in..

And if Google need to approve it, then it probably means Voda need an Platform update to their RCS / IMS Platform, and its probably supported by them..

I might have a chat with my contact in the Enterprise Account team, as they are usually more switched on then CS or the Social Media Team..

If RCS comes to newtworks then woohool, if it doesn't then who cares!!!
 
yes it is


this should already be done if the network supports RCS via jibe for android users.


likely jibenet is an anycast and will pick the closest service
No UK networks are doing that as far as I'm aware (EE might be but I think they use someone else). The announcements last year from Vodafone and O2 about "moving to Jibe" were really saying Android users phones are going to start using Google's Jibe servers as we're shutting down our own RCS. That's why the clients had to ask permission to share data with Google. The RCS servers are gone from O2, Vodafone and 3.
 
Sponsored Links
That shouldn't really work at all, as there's no mechanism in RCS to do it other than rendering as an image. So I'm quite impressed it even does that. :)
yeah, it's kinda cool. what isn't so cool is you’ll struggle to send a text to an Android user when your Wi-Fi connection is weak. And if you want to schedule an RCS message from your iPhone, you can only do it when texting other Apple devices.
 
Just to be clear as well - RCS on Android uses 2.7 and Apple chose 2.4... Apple Dont support Encryption Because they want an open standard and not use Googles E2E implementation..

Version 2.7 (June 2024)[


RACSCS Version 14.0. Adds support for sending message replies, custom emoji reactions, editing and deleting messages. Improves spam handling and adds chatbot features.This version is used in Google Messages.




Apple uses the 5 year old UP... ...



Version 2.4 (October 2019)


RACSCS Version 11.0. Removes plug-in integration and includes integrated seamless web-view. Added additional chatbot features.This version is used in Messages (Apple) with iOS 18.
 
The UP used by Apple doesn't support a lot of features as its still an old version, so users will miss out on the latest bits and bats built in..

And if Google need to approve it, then it probably means Voda need an Platform update to their RCS / IMS Platform, and its probably supported by them..

I might have a chat with my contact in the Enterprise Account team, as they are usually more switched on then CS or the Social Media Team..

If RCS comes to newtworks then woohool, if it doesn't then who cares!!!

RCS on Apple devices has nothing to do with Google, unless the network you use wants it to or already has a commercial agreement with them limiting what they can do technically outside of that agreement.

My understanding is that IOS 18 is using RCS 2.6. The latest version is 2.7 and was only released 3 months ago. According to a quick google and Wikipedia it only adds "support for sending message replies, custom emoji reactions, editing and deleting messages. Improves spam handling and adds chatbot features".
 
No UK networks are doing that as far as I'm aware (EE might be but I think they use someone else). The announcements last year from Vodafone and O2 about "moving to Jibe" were really saying Android users phones are going to start using Google's Jibe servers as we're shutting down our own RCS. That's why the clients had to ask permission to share data with Google. The RCS servers are gone from O2, Vodafone and 3.
well O2 moved in October last year to Jibe
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6028)
  2. BT (3639)
  3. Politics (2721)
  4. Business (2440)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2146)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1902)
  10. 4G (1816)
  11. Virgin Media (1764)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1407)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules