iPhone and Android Video Calls May Soon Connect via RCS
▼ Summary
– The GSMA has finalized the RCS Universal Profile 4.0 standard, which introduces a feature called Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC).
– This MIVC feature would allow users to start interoperable video calls directly from 1-to-1 or group RCS chats across different devices and networks.
– Apple and Google have not yet announced support for this feature, so its availability and timeline remain uncertain.
– The new standard also enables text formatting options like bold, italics, and strikethrough within messages.
– It additionally supports the sharing of higher quality audio, video, and image files.
A significant step toward breaking down the communication barrier between iPhone and Android devices has been announced. The GSM Association (GSMA) has finalized the RCS Universal Profile 4.0 standard, which introduces a feature called Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC). This technology could allow users to seamlessly transition a one-on-one or group text chat into a live video call directly within their messaging application.
The new MIVC protocol is designed to integrate video calls into the natural flow of a conversation. According to the GSMA, the feature ensures continuity by letting group members join an ongoing video call they might have missed initially. It also synchronizes call logs within the chat timeline, creating a unified record of the interaction. This development is positioned as the foundation for the first natively supported, interoperable video call experience that could work across a diverse array of devices and mobile networks.
It is crucial to understand that this is currently a standard on paper, not a feature in your phone. Neither Apple nor Google has announced plans to implement MIVC in their respective messaging platforms, iMessage and Google Messages. The timeline for, or even the certainty of, cross-platform video calls becoming a reality remains unknown. Both companies did not provide immediate comment on the new standard.
Beyond video calling, the updated RCS Universal Profile includes other enhancements. It finally brings common text formatting options like bold, italic, and strikethrough to the rich communication services protocol. The standard also promises support for sharing higher quality media files, including audio, video, and images, which could significantly improve the multimedia messaging experience between different operating systems.
(Source: The Verge)
