Google removes special icon for iOS-Android RCS chats

With iOS 18 Developer Beta 2 installed, iPhone users with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon subscriptions can now message their Android buddies, relatives, and coworkers using RCS, which brings features like read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality images, and video to chats between iOS-Android users. As is typical with beta releases, some of these features are not yet working.

At the present time, Apple iPhone-Android RCS messages do not have end-to-end encryption, as indicated by a lock icon with a slash through it on Google Messages. Google Messages offers its own end-to-end encryption for one-to-one and group chats, which Apple does not support. This icon was visible under each message exchanged between an Android and iPhone user using RCS on Google Messages. However, as of today, the icon indicating the lack of end-to-end encryption on Google Messages has disappeared.

According to a report, the removal of the ‘no end-to-end encryption’ icon is a result of a server-side update connected to beta versions of Google Messages. It is unnecessary for Google to display the icon anymore, as iPhone users cannot do anything to eliminate the slash covering the lock icon.

Currently, the RCS version supported by iOS does not have end-to-end encryption. While messages are encrypted during transit, carriers can still access them. It is uncertain what will happen to end-to-end encryption once iOS 18 is officially released, but we do know that text bubbles will remain green when iPhone users chat with Android users over RCS. The possibility of iPhone users continuing to discriminate against Android users based on green bubbles remains to be seen.

Of all the enhancements iPhone and Android users will enjoy with the features offered by iOS support of RCS, the most notable may be the improved appearance of images and videos sent and received. Previously, when communicating via SMS and MMS, shared photos were often pixelated and videos were difficult to watch. However, this could change if you are willing to take a risk and install the iOS 18 developer beta.

Due to the decrease in battery life and common iOS beta bugs, it may be beneficial to wait for the stable version to be released later this year. At that time, iOS could potentially incorporate Google Messages’ end-to-end encryption along with its RCS support.