Telstra RCS messaging will roll out from 16th November, bringing a long overdue upgrade to texting between iPhone and Android users.
Android customers will get it first, with iPhone owners to follow after Apple’s December iOS update.
The move means Telstra will be the first Australian telco to enable widespread RCS support for its customers. The catch is that it will only work when the person you’re messaging is also on the Telstra network.
What RCS changes for your texting
RCS is short for Rich Communication Services, and it’s the modern replacement for SMS and MMS. Messages travel over the internet rather than through standard SMS channels but still land in your built-in messaging app.
Features that Android and iPhone users have missed out on when messaging each other, like high-resolution images, read receipts, typing indicators, and proper group chaps will be available under the new service.
For security, Telstra lists end-to-end encryption and verified business senders so you can tell when a message comes from a legitimate business.
RCS doesn’t cost anything to use, but it uses data, which is important to keep in mind when you’re travelling overseas.
A long overdue upgrade
Apple has had RCS support available since September 2024, but no local telco had switched it on until now.
That means text message chats between iPhone and Android were stuck on SMS or MMS, which is why many people moved to apps like WhatsApp.
Mixed iPhone and Android families are the most likely to see a benefit.
Limited to Telstra RCS for now
Telco-based RCS only works when both the phone and the carrier support it, which means the rollout is limited in scope for now.
A Telstra spokesperson speaking to WhistleOut said the rollout covers Telstra’s network brands, including Belong, Everyday Mobile, and ALDI Mobile. If you message someone on Optus or Vodafone, RCS isn’t guaranteed.
Android and iPhone users texting to their own platform are in a different position. Google runs its own RCS service through Google Messages where telcos don’t have it available, and Apple’s iMessage takes over when texting from iOS to iOS.
None of the other Aussie telcos have an RCS rollout date yet, but with Telstra moving first, the pressure is on competitors to improve texting across platforms.
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