The GSM Association has announced new specifications for the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol, enabling end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users. This enhancement allows for secure cross-platform communications, adding features like group messaging and file-sharing. While Apple was initially hesitant, it incorporated RCS with iOS 18 last year. The new encryption standard, based on the Messaging Layer Security protocol, aims to ensure that only senders and recipients can access message content, enhancing privacy and security against threats.