The phrase refers to the anticipated capability to activate Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging on Apple’s iPhone operating system, specifically the expected iOS 18 release. It represents a significant shift in how text messages are handled on iPhones, potentially moving away from the older SMS/MMS standards.
This functionality is important because it promises enhanced features such as read receipts, typing indicators, high-resolution image and video sharing, and improved group chat capabilities. Its adoption could significantly improve the messaging experience for iPhone users, bringing it closer to parity with Android devices that already utilize the RCS protocol. This is in contrast to the current reliance on Apple’s proprietary iMessage system for richer features when communicating between Apple devices, and the fallback to SMS/MMS when messaging non-Apple devices, which results in a degraded experience.