iOS 26.4 Beta 2 Adds Encrypted RCS Messaging
The second beta of iOS 26.4 introduces end-to-end encryption for RCS chats in the Messages app, aligning with Google's standard for secure cross-platform messaging. The update also brings new features and UI refinements to six stock iPhone apps, including Weather and Wallet. The Wallet app now has improved event ticket handling and support for new NFC-based passes, hinting at expanded digital ID integrations.
Apple's initial adoption of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) Universal Profile in iOS 18 in 2024 was a significant reversal, following years of public debate over the "green bubble" versus "blue bubble" divide that limited messaging features between iPhones and Android devices. This first step improved basics like media quality and typing indicators but lacked the security of iMessage. The end-to-end encryption now being implemented for RCS is based on the highly-regarded Signal Protocol. This is the same cryptographic foundation used by Google for its own RCS clients, as well as by other major platforms like WhatsApp, and brings cross-platform chats much closer to the security standard Apple set with iMessage back in 2011. Google's RCS backend relies on its Jibe platform, a cloud service acquired in 2015 that provides carriers with the necessary infrastructure to support the Universal Profile. By aligning with the encryption standard used by Jibe, Apple is ensuring a more seamless and secure interoperability for features that previously would have been downgraded to the antiquated SMS/MMS protocols. The expanded digital ID support hinted at in the Wallet update leverages established NFC standards like ISO/IEC 14443, the same protocol used for secure transit cards and e-passports. This technical foundation is crucial for enabling an iPhone to act as a verifiable credential, replacing physical ID cards for more sensitive transactions than simple payments. This push for standardized, secure NFC passes extends beyond personal identification and into the smart
