Latest news with #RCS
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
iOS 26—Apple's iPhone Upgrade May Be Bad News For Google
Apple's iOS 26 could be bad news for Google. 'Any news when it may be safe to text iPhone to Android?' one Forbes reader emailed me this week. The FBI and other agencies warned users to stop texting between the two, as messages are not fully encrypted despite promises it's coming with a new RCS. It was last December that Salt Typhoon was outed marauding through U.S. networks, prompting the bureau's warning to stop texting. That came just a couple of months after Apple finally relented and added RCS to iMessage. Its limited implementation was bad news for Google at the time, and iOS 26 may be more of the same. RCS is not encrypted. Google has added its own security layer across its Messages platform, but RCS messages between iPhones and Androids were less secure than iMessages or Google Messages when iOS 18 launched, and that has not changed. The iPhone-masker seemed ambivalent about when that might be fixed. It could have been an easy interface for Apple and Google to release, but instead Apple said it would wait for the protocol itself to be upgraded, industry-wide. Back in March, GSMA, the mobile standards setter, announced a new RCS protocol with full end-to-end encryption. Apple and Google confirmed this would be added to their respective platforms. Problem solved? Maybe — but maybe not. It was assumed that Apple would launch this with iOS 26 — what was still referred to as iOS 19 at the time. But three betas in, there's no sign of this yet, even as Google openly experiments with the new RCS encryption on its own Messages platform. Per MacRumors, 'in March, Apple said that it planned to add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to the Messages app,' but 'as of the third developer beta of iOS 26 released this week, the upgrade has yet to be implemented on iPhones.' While wccftech says 'Apple continues to delay end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, leaving chats exposed to third parties, and undermining users' privacy expectations, as iOS 26 Beta 3 fails to deliver the promised protection.' Apple was late to the RCS party, with speculation that its eventual u-turn was triggered by U.S., European or even Chinese regulatory pressure. Even now, RCS is an add-on to iMessage which uses its own security architecture, not a full integration. As such, the shift to full encryption matters less to Apple than to Google, which is all in on RCS and even took control of the global rollout across its Android ecosystem, rather than rely on the patchwork quilt of mobile networks to run a slower process. RCS came late to iOS 18, with the public beta giving the first real updates and the same may be the case here as well. But even Google seems to have more work to do before a worldwide generally available rollout or the new RCS protocol is feasible. iOS 26 was seen as a milestone for encrypted RCS, killing the texting security warnings once and for all. But thus far that is not looking likely, at least not on release. And that's bad news for Google, which remains the primary drive of this new messaging standard. And it's bad news for users in a world where Malwarebytes warns of an 'alarming 692% spike in SMS-based malware.' A surge 'that we can't just chalk up to coincidence,' coming as 'widespread campaigns like toll fee scams' continue to surge.
Fashion Value Chain
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Eurofins Assurance India Earns GOTS & Textile Exchange Nod
Eurofins Assurance has announced that its India office has been accredited by IOAS as a Certification Body for Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Textile Exchange certification schemes. These globally recognised programs support sustainable practices in textiles by ensuring traceability of organic and recycled materials while promoting transparency across supply chains. Following rigorous evaluation, IOAS has approved multiple Eurofins offices for these certification programs. With this recognition, Eurofins Assurance India is now equipped to provide certification services across Asia and Europe, with plans to expand further. Approved standards include: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) Textile Exchange GRS (Global Recycled Standard) OCS (Organic Content Standard) RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) CCS (Content Claim Standard) Benefits for Buyers and Suppliers Achieving GOTS and Textile Exchange certifications offers significant advantages — from increased transparency of raw material origins to better chain-of-custody risk management. These internationally recognised certifications also enhance brand trust and consumer confidence through verified product claims and adherence to rigorous protocols. Digital Efficiency with Impact Trace Eurofins is also developing Impact Trace, a digital platform designed to streamline the certification process. The platform enables efficient management of bookings, documentation, audit progress tracking, report access, and issuance of Transaction Certificates—all in one user-friendly interface. Trusted Network and Expertise Eurofins Assurance has a network of trained auditors across key manufacturing hubs and extensive experience in third-party audits and verification, ensuring prompt support for certification setup and compliance. Eurofins Assurance India Pvt. Ltd. also holds ISO 17065:2012 accreditation from IOAS for the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) under the Textile Exchange scheme. For more details on the certification process and requirements, visit the official Eurofins Assurance India website.
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Android Authority
RCS chats not connecting? Google Messages may soon make it easier to diagnose (APK teardown)
Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority TL;DR Google Messages may be about to add a 'Details' button to help diagnose issues with RCS chats connections. The button was spotted within a recent beta version of the app, and includes a 'Submit feedback' option. Google has previously advised users to provide this kind of technical info if they're having problems with the feature. If you've ever found RCS chats registration stuck on 'Connecting' or 'Verifying' in Google Messages, you know how frustrating it is. Google may be about to introduce a small but helpful tool that could get the issue diagnosed a lot quicker. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. In Google Messages version ' we spotted a flag-restricted feature that adds a new 'Details' button to the RCS chat settings screen while registration is in progress. This debug-style popup reveals technical info like your status code, carrier, and device IDs — exactly the kind of details Google's support team needs to help you out, but often don't receive. A pinned Reddit post by the official GoogleHelpCommunity account urges frustrated users to include data like carrier, device model, and app version when reporting issues. But most people don't — either because they don't know the full details or are unaware of Google's advice. This new Details button looks like Google's direct response to that problem, making it easier for users to collect and share the information when the issue happens. You can see how it looks in the screenshots below. The Details button appears just below the Status It disappears once you are successfully connected. There's also a built-in 'Submit feedback' button that automatically attaches a screenshot of the details dialog and other system logs to help the Messages team diagnose problems faster. It's far from a guarantee that they'll get on to your issue in a timely manner, but the info is handy context for both you and Google. Once RCS successfully connects, the Details option disappears from the settings. Again, this feature is only visible in the beta build with specific flags enabled, and it's not guaranteed to be rolled out. However, its presence strongly suggests that Google is actively working to improve RCS troubleshooting after years of vague error messages. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India Welcomes RCS on iPhones: SMSGatewayHub Heralds a New Era in Business Messaging
PNN New Delhi [India], July 14: In a monumental leap forward for India's digital communication ecosystem, Rich Communication Services (RCS) has officially launched on iPhones--transforming the humble SMS into an immersive, interactive, and intelligent messaging experience. At the forefront of this evolution is SMSGatewayHub, India's leading enterprise messaging solutions provider, powering businesses to shift from basic text to next-generation conversations. The arrival of RCS on iPhones is not just a feature update--it's a seismic shift in how brands will engage with their customers. With support for high-resolution media, read receipts, branded sender IDs, carousels, smart reply buttons, live tracking, and real-time engagement analytics, RCS is redefining what messaging means in the modern business landscape. And SMSGatewayHub is the first mover leading this revolution. For years, SMSGatewayHub has been the trusted digital backbone for businesses seeking secure, scalable, and responsive communication. Now, with RCS fully enabled across Android and iOS devices, the company is unlocking a new standard--one where messaging feels less like a notification and more like a dialogue. From retail and BFSI to logistics, healthcare, and edtech, clients across industries are now equipped to offer richer, faster, and more branded experiences--all within the default messaging app. "This is not an upgrade; it's a rebirth of messaging," said a spokesperson from SMSGatewayHub. "Imagine a world where customers receive a flight boarding pass, track deliveries live, schedule appointments, or make purchases--all without ever downloading another app. With RCS, that world is here--and we're making it real for Indian businesses today." Unlike traditional SMS, RCS allows businesses to build visual journeys with product images, carousels, tap-based menus, and verified business profiles--establishing trust and driving higher conversions. What was once a 160-character alert is now a mini-app experience delivered straight into a user's inbox, with delivery assurance and end-to-end encryption. The timing could not be more perfect. With India's mobile-first economy booming and customer attention spans shrinking, enterprises need tools that are fast, frictionless, and visually impactful. SMSGatewayHub's deep telecom integrations, advanced RCS APIs, and intelligent routing engines ensure that businesses can deliver personalized, branded content at scale--without sacrificing security or speed. And the early results are speaking for themselves. Businesses leveraging SMSGatewayHub's RCS capabilities are reporting exponential increases in click-through rates, engagement, and customer satisfaction. More importantly, customers are staying in the conversation longer--choosing to interact, explore, and respond within the very message they receive. What sets SMSGatewayHub apart isn't just its technology--it's the company's commitment to making enterprise communication human again. In a world crowded with apps, tabs, and distractions, RCS through SMSGatewayHub brings businesses and customers back into a single, trusted space: the native messaging app. As the messaging landscape transforms across India, SMSGatewayHub stands as the architect of this future--one rich message at a time. For businesses ready to move from transactional to transformational, the future isn't just near--it's already live. Please Visit for More Information :
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How will AI significantly enhance WhatsApp and RCS services to grow the volume in the next 1-2 years?
Ping! A WhatsApp notification lights up your phone. If it's a text, you might glance and move on, but an interactive carousel or video attachment? That's enough to draw you in, whether from a friend or a brand. With a whopping 84% of consumers now preferring rich, engaging formats over plain text, it has forced a shift in expectations and is driving an explosive growth in channels like WhatsApp and Rich Communication Services (RCS). In 2024, RCS adoption in omnichannel strategies skyrocketed by 500% globally, fueled by the iOS 18 release, while WhatsApp solidified its dominance with a 30% year-on-year increase in brands using it for conversational marketing. As businesses race to deliver seamless, human-like interactions, AI has come to the forefront to supercharge these channels with hyper-personalized, predictive conversations. India is a key player in this global trend and stands out as a leader in driving messaging innovation. India: A testbed for innovation With over 500 million users , India has emerged as a strategic market for WhatsApp, providing the scale and diversity needed to test and refine features like Payments in messaging, user-friendly WhatsApp Flows , and the simplified Business Calling API. These features are already making a real difference for local businesses across industries, enabling more seamless and interactive customer engagement through the channel the customer is familiar with. This widespread adoption is no coincidence as India's mobile-first, multilingual population creates an ideal environment for experimenting with AI-driven messaging solutions. As these use cases mature locally, they're not only enhancing customer experience but also setting a scalable model for regional and global markets. This ongoing innovation in the conversational commerce and messaging ecosystem is also charting a new growth trajectory for the telecom industry. The telecom opportunity: Redefining customer experience For mobile network operators or telcos, the pressure to evolve and modernize customer experience (CX) is no longer just a competitive advantage. It is essential for survival. As customers grow accustomed to seamless, app-like interactions from digital-native brands, traditional call centers and one-way SMS notifications are starting to feel outdated and annoying. To stay relevant, telcos must adopt and provide a richer, more interactive channels like WhatsApp and RCS, which enable branded conversations through carousels, quick replies, and verified sender IDs. Not just better customer engagement, these new features and channels open up powerful monetization opportunities for the entire ecosystem. Premium messaging services, like transactional alerts, onboarding journeys, and loyalty campaigns - all position telcos as strategic partners for brands. In markets like India, where WhatsApp Payments is experiencing growth, telecom operators can further drive value by enabling recharges, bill payments, and added services directly within the chat. Combined with AI, these features evolve into intelligent channels for communication that scale, personalize, and streamline customer conversations, boosting satisfaction, loyalty, and revenue for both brands and the telcos. How AI will supercharge whatsApp and RCS for telcos? For telcos, integrating AI into customer interactions powered by technology is changing the way brands connect with audiences and bring multi-fold benefits to both customers and brands. Hyper-personalized customer interactions Businesses are now using AI-powered NLP and machine learning to analyze user data and deliver personalized messages, offers, and recommendations. Brands are also using AI-powered WhatsApp and RCS carousel messages to boost customer engagement by promoting products and services specifically tailored to user interests. Predictive analytics even picks up the interaction from where the user left off and enables features like timely cart abandonment reminders and personalized offers, creating more human-like, engaging experiences. Building on this, advanced chatbots handle complex multilingual conversations, guiding users through support, purchases, or bookings. With 24/7 availability and sentiment analysis, they are able to manage extremely high volumes efficiently and quickly route sensitive issues to human agents when needed. This smart blend of automation and empathy builds trust and makes messaging the preferred channel for fast, reliable service. Automated campaign optimization Real-time communication optimization is a benefit that stands out with AI automatically adjusting message timing, format, and content based on user engagement, be it text, video, or interactive elements. RCS channels now enhance this with rich media features like carousels and suggested replies, driving higher click-through rates and request resolutions. AI-powered A/B testing further sharpens performance by quickly identifying the best-performing variations, enabling faster, smarter, and more efficient execution that meets modern customer expectations. Seamless cross-channel integration AI-powered tools now create and enable unified customer journeys by integrating channels like WhatsApp, RCS, email, social media with CRM and other enterprise systems. This way, conversational journeys flow naturally - what starts on RCS can easily continue on WhatsApp and be followed up via email, without losing context. It's a small shift with a big impact. These connected experiences are easy to follow for the customer and drive higher engagement and repeat interactions, ultimately increasing overall messaging volume. Enhanced security and trust Trust and security are key factors in customer experience, especially today. AI-driven systems are now able to identify and block spam or phishing attempts in real time, protecting both the brand and the customer. For example, verified RCS messages with recognizable logos and secure, trackable links further boost user confidence to use the service. The result is simple but powerful, i.e., when people trust the message, they're far more likely to interact with it. Conclusion: The AI-driven future of messaging AI has established itself as the next catalyst in transforming WhatsApp and RCS into powerful channels that go beyond just increasing message volume and user interactions. By enabling richer, hyper-personalized interactions, AI not only drives higher channel usage but also significantly improves the efficacy and ROI of these messaging channels for brands as well as telcos. It will further advance businesses' omnichannel strategies by delivering smarter, more integrated customer experiences. WhatsApp, with 3 billion global users, is already a key channel for brand-consumer engagement, and AI-driven personalization and automation will only accelerate this growth. At the same time, RCS is rapidly scaling, with research indicating an increase to 6 trillion messages in 2029, fueled further by Apple's support and AI's ability to deliver rich, interactive content. For industries like telcos, these channels offer a chance to redefine customer experience, strengthen omnichannel strategies, and unlock new revenue streams, particularly in markets like India.
