Apple to implement RCS messaging standard in iOS later next year

Apple told TechRadar and 9to5Mac today that it will support Rich Communication Services (RCS) text messaging in iOS, alongside iMessage, SMS and MMS in the Messages app. The full Apple quote is, "Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe the RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users". RCS requires carrier support (which now that iOS supports it, will come quickly) and only Google's proprietary implementation of RCS that Apple won't support is end-to-end encrypted, but it's better than nothing right now and gives the industry something to build on. I reckon Apple is hoping that finally supporting RCS is enough to placate the EU's Digital Markets Act instead of opening up iMessage.