NEW DELHI — Google and Apple have begun rolling out end-to-end encrypted Rich Communication Services messaging in beta for iPhone and Android users, marking a major privacy upgrade for cross-platform messaging.
Apple said it partnered with Google as part of a broader industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to RCS, the messaging standard designed to replace traditional SMS.
The feature is now available in beta for iPhone users running iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and for Android users using the latest version of Google Messages, according to Apple.
With end-to-end encryption enabled, RCS messages cannot be accessed or read while they are being transmitted between devices, giving users stronger privacy and security protections.
Apple said users will be able to identify encrypted conversations through a new lock icon displayed in RCS chats. The feature will be enabled by default and gradually activated for both new and existing conversations.
Google said its Messages platform has supported end-to-end encrypted communication between Android devices for several years and that it is now extending those protections to cross-platform RCS conversations.
The Alphabet Inc.-backed company said encryption will remain enabled by default and will gradually roll out to new and existing RCS conversations across supported devices.
Apple said iMessage was designed with privacy at its core and has always supported end-to-end encryption. The company said iMessage remains the most secure and seamless way for users to communicate within the Apple ecosystem.
The rollout comes after Meta earlier this month discontinued end-to-end encrypted direct messages on Instagram, ending the privacy-focused feature for users globally. (Source: IANS)
