Recent developments in mobile communication have significantly improved the interoperability between Xiaomi phones and iPhones. According to GizChina, the GSM Association (GSMA)—which represents mobile network operators—has announced a new standard for the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging protocol. This update introduces end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for conversations between Android and iPhone users, addressing a long-standing security gap.
Historically, iPhone users have enjoyed the benefits of iMessage’s end-to-end encryption, while Android users utilizing Google Messages have been similarly protected when exchanging RCS messages. However, communication between iPhone and Android users often defaulted to traditional SMS/MMS, which lacks any form of encryption, raising pertinent privacy concerns.
The newly established RCS standard, developed with the collaboration of major tech companies including Apple, Google, and Xiaomi, introduces Message Layer Security (MLS) technology. This innovation ensures that RCS messages exchanged between Android and iPhone devices are encrypted end-to-end, meaning that only the sender and recipient can access the message contents. This enhancement significantly bolsters protection against potential intrusions by hackers, service providers, or other third parties.
For Xiaomi users and the broader Android community, this advancement marks a significant stride towards enhanced messaging security. In the foreseeable future, users can exchange messages with iPhone users with greater confidence in the privacy of their communications.
The encryption process is designed to be automatic, alleviating users from any complex settings and ensuring a more seamless and secure messaging experience. Xiaomi’s early support for this standard underscores its commitment to safeguarding customer privacy.
Apple has begun integrating RCS support with the launch of iOS 18, which debuted in late 2024. While this step is a positive move, Apple has not yet disclosed a specific timeline for full implementation of the new RCS standard that incorporates cross-platform end-to-end encryption. This initiative aligns with Google’s ongoing efforts to promote a modern and secure messaging system to replace traditional SMS.