Apple adopted RCS for iPhones in late 2024. This was a major development, as it helped ease messaging between Android devices and iPhones. The new RCS Universal Profile 4.0 is about to take things to new heights. GSMA, which oversees RCS development, has announced the next major update to the RCS Universal Profile. Among the new features, one really stands out. RCS 4.0 update will enable native video calling between Android and iPhone.
RCS 4.0 update brings native video calls across Android and iPhone
The RCS Universal Profile 4.0 update brings native video calling support. A new video call option will appear within the messaging app. This would allow users to initiate video calls without switching to another app, making things convenient. The “Message-Initiated Video Calls” (MIVC) allows users to start a video call within a chat thread, allowing participants in a group conversation to join or leave at any time.
Besides this, RCS Universal Profile 4.0 also introduces a new feature within the messaging experience. It brings new text formatting options, such as bold, italics, and strikethrough. Additionally, users will also be able to share higher-quality audio, images, and videos through RCS as devices can “identify the media formats supported by their conversation partners.”
May not arrive anytime soon
In terms of business messaging, the RCS Universal Profile 4.0 adds support for embedding streaming videos and more control over how links open. Users will be able to open the links within the messaging app or in an external app.
All said and done, RCS Universal Profile 4.0 may not arrive anytime soon on Android and iPhone devices. This is because RCS 3.0, announced in March 2025 with support for native end-to-end encryption, hasn’t seen widespread adoption yet. It may roll out later this year. Considering that, RCS 4.0 may be implemented sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.
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