Apple’s RCS support expands to 10 countries with iOS 18.5, unlocking billion-dollar revenue opportunities for businesses and transforming communication for 2.5 billion users worldwide.

10 Countries Now Support RCS on iPhone

As of May 20, 2025, Apple now supports RCS in these countries with iOS 18.5:

North America:

• USA: T-Mobile, AT&T, Xfinity, Spectrum, US Cellular, Metro, Cricket, TracFone, Boost, Verizon, PureTalk, Red Pocket, Visible, Ultra, Family Mobile
• Canada: Bell, Rogers, Telus, Videotron, Freedom, Fido, Koodo, SaskTel

Europe:

• UK: O2, EE, Three
• Germany: O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Proximus, Telenet
• Spain: Movistar, Vodafone, Yoigo, MASMOVIL, pepephone
• France: Bouygues, SFR, Free, Orange
• Belgium: Proximus, Telenet

Asia-Pacific:

• China: China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom
• Singapore: Singtel
• Japan: KDDI, SoftBank, docomo

This represents a massive expansion from the limited initial rollout, now covering major markets across three continents.

What is RCS? The SMS Revolution

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a messaging protocol developed by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) as the evolution of SMS. Unlike traditional SMS limited to 160 characters, RCS vs. SMS offers:

• High-Resolution Media: Images, videos, carousels, PDF documents and files without compression
• Real-Time Features: Read receipts, typing indicators, message reactions
• Interactive Elements: Action and suggested reply buttons for bookings, payments, customer service
• Group Messaging: Advanced group chat capabilities
• Brand Integration: Company logos, verified profiles, branded messaging

Does Apple Support RCS? From Resistance to Reality

The question “Does Apple support RCS?” evolved dramatically. After years of resistance, Apple announced in November 2023v that it would adopt RCS, and delivered with iOS 18 in September 2024.

RCS on iOS now provides seamless messaging between iPhone and Android users, ending the “green bubble” quality limitations while maintaining visual distinction.

How to Turn On RCS: Simple Setup Guide

For iPhone Users (iOS 18.5+)

How to turn on RCS on your iPhone:

1. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Messages
2. Under “Text Messaging,” find “RCS Messaging”
3. Toggle the switch to enable RCS messaging
4. Your carrier must support RCS (see map above for supported carriers)

For Android Users

Android devices come with RCS chat built-in through Google Messages. Enable it in your messaging settings under “Chat features.”

Massive User Base Impact: The Numbers

iPhone Market Dominance

The impact of RCS on iOS is substantial:

• iPhones represent 57% of the US market, making RCS adoption critical for cross-platform messaging
• Apple accounts for 65% of the US smartphone market
• 68% of iPhones have upgraded to iOS 18+ as of January 2025

Rich Business Messaging: The Revenue Revolution

Market Size and Projections

Rich Business Messaging represents explosive growth opportunities:

• RCS market expected to reach $2.87 billion in 2025, growing at 25.37% CAGR to $8.89 billion by 2030
• Global RCS market projected to reach $34.39 billion by 2029
• US market alone expected to reach $3.1 billion by 2032

Business Messaging Performance

RCS for business messaging delivers superior results:

• Jupiter Research predicts 2.1 billion active RCS users by 2025
• Brands in Android-dominant markets are already seeing significant engagement improvements
• As of 2025, 2 of the 3 major US carriers support RCS Business Messaging across devices

AI on RCS: The Future of Intelligent Messaging

AI on RCS enables revolutionary business capabilities:

• Intelligent Chatbots: Rich media responses with interactive elements
• Automated Customer Service: AI-powered support with branded messaging
• Personalized Recommendations: Dynamic product carousels based on user behavior
• Predictive Messaging: AI-optimized timing and content delivery
• Real-Time Analytics: Advanced performance tracking and optimization

Strategic Business Implications

• First-Mover Advantage

Early RCS adoption signals technological leadership and innovation, creating competitive differentiation in crowded markets.

• Cross-Platform Reach

With iOS 18.5 supporting RCS in 10 countries, businesses can now reach both iPhone and Android users with consistent, rich messaging experiences.

• ROI and Performance

Major advertising and marketing companies are driving RCS adoption due to superior engagement rates and conversion performance.

• The Road Ahead: Universal Profile 3.0

Apple confirmed support for RCS Universal Profile 3.0, bringing end-to-end encryption between iPhone and Android users—a game-changer for secure business communication.

Seize the RCS Opportunity Now

With Apple’s increasing support to RCS, the potential user base for RCS expands to over 2 billion, encompassing both Android and iOS users. This presents a golden opportunity for businesses. As Apple gears up to support Rich Business Messaging (A2P), brands can leverage RCS to deliver enhanced, interactive messaging experiences to a massive audience, regardless of their device preference. 

With a significantly expanded user base, brands are increasingly seeking a uniform, interactive business messaging experience across all platforms. This surge in demand is driving growth opportunities for aggregators, developers, telcos, and ISVs in the RCS ecosystem. 

Dotgo: Pioneering RCS on Apple 

At Dotgo, we’re staying ahead of the curve. We had been actively testing RCS on Apple devices, ensuring our partners are well-prepared to capitalize on the first-mover advantage when Apple fully supports A2P RCS business messaging. 

Our platform now features comprehensive RCS support with Apple Device Preview, enabling businesses to create unified messaging campaigns that work seamlessly across both iOS and Android devices. With our preview functionality, you can visualize exactly how your RCS messages will appear on Apple devices, ensuring optimal user experience and consistent branding across all devices. This eliminates guesswork and maximizes campaign effectiveness in today’s multi-device messaging landscape.

The future of messaging is here, and it’s powered by RCS. Don’t miss out on this transformative opportunity. Contact us today to learn how we can help you harness the power of RCS and elevate your business messaging strategy.