Apple’s Encrypted RCS Test Is Here… and It’s Somehow Already Confusing
Apple has officially started testing end‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging, and on paper, that sounds like a win for anyone who’s ever been trapped in the green‑bubble wilderness. Stronger security, modern messaging features, and a little less SMS‑era sadness — what’s not to love?
Well… a few things.
Because while encrypted RCS is absolutely a step forward, Apple’s first implementation feels less like a breakthrough and more like a “Sure, fine, I guess we’ll try this” energy. And if you’ve been following the RCS saga, you already know this should’ve been baked in the moment Apple announced support.
Instead, we’re getting a “beta” that’s “not available for all devices or carriers,” and the fine print gets even weirder from there.
Let’s unpack it.
RCS Encryption… But Only Between Apple Devices?
Here’s the part that made the entire security community collectively raise an eyebrow:
For this release, RCS encryption only works between Apple devices.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Apple is testing encrypted RCS — the standard designed to modernize messaging between different platforms — exclusively on conversations between iPhones. You know… the devices that already have iMessage. The ones already enjoying end‑to‑end encryption. The ones that already solve this exact problem.
It’s like installing a brand‑new security system on a house that already has one, while the house next door (Android) is still waiting for someone to drop off the keys.
From a technical perspective, it’s not wrong. From a practical perspective, it’s baffling.
“I Get That It’s a Test”… But Still
Look, I get it. It’s a test. Apple loves a slow rollout. They love a controlled environment. They love making sure every pixel is perfectly aligned before letting the rest of the world touch anything.
But testing RCS encryption only on Apple‑to‑Apple conversations feels like test‑driving a boat in a parking lot. Technically possible, not especially useful.
If the goal is to validate interoperability — the entire reason RCS exists — then maybe, just maybe, the test should involve the platform RCS is actually meant to interoperate with.
Just a thought.
Android: Still Waiting Outside Like It’s Not Invited
Meanwhile, Android — the platform that’s been championing RCS for years — is standing outside the club waiting for the bouncer (Apple) to check the list. And so far, the list says:
iPhone
iPhone
iPhone
…and absolutely no one else
This is the messaging equivalent of hosting a “collaboration workshop” and then only inviting your own team. Sure, you can test the slides, but you’re not exactly proving the concept.
Why This Matters for Security (and Sanity)
From a security standpoint, encrypted RCS is a big deal. It brings modern protections to a messaging ecosystem that’s been stuck in the early 2000s. It reduces the attack surface for phishing, spoofing, and interception. It gives users — especially small businesses — a safer baseline for communication.
But the way Apple is rolling this out means we’re not actually testing the real‑world scenario that needs protecting. The whole point of RCS encryption is securing cross‑platform communication, not adding a second lock to a door that already has one. Until Apple tests this with Android — the platform RCS was designed to bridge — we’re not getting meaningful validation of how secure, stable, or interoperable this will be when it actually matters.
So… Is This Progress?
Technically, yes. Encrypted RCS on iPhone is a step forward. A small one. A cautious one. A very Apple one.
But if we want a world where messaging is secure, modern, and consistent across platforms — where green bubbles aren’t synonymous with “downgraded security” — then the real work starts when Apple opens this testing to Android devices.
Until then, we’re watching a cross‑platform standard being tested in a single‑platform bubble.
Still, I guess it’s a start.
A very Apple start.
#EncryptAllTheThings #GreenBubbleDiplomacy #RCSButNotReally
