RCS 4.0 Update Explores Interoperable Video Calls for iPhone and Android

Daily Technology

·

31/03/2026

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The division between mobile operating systems has long created barriers in communication, particularly with native video calling. While third-party apps offer cross-platform solutions, a standardized, built-in experience has remained elusive. The GSM Association (GSMA) recently announced an update that could address this gap: the finalized RCS Universal Profile 4.0, which introduces a framework for interoperable video calls.

The Promise of Universal Profile 4.0

The core of this update is a feature named Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC). According to the GSMA, MIVC is designed to allow users to seamlessly elevate a 1-to-1 or group RCS chat into a video call. The standard aims to ensure conversation continuity, allowing individuals to join an ongoing call they may have missed initially and synchronizing call logs within the chat timeline. If implemented, MIVC would represent the first natively supported video call experience that is interoperable across a wide range of devices and networks.

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However, the technical framework is only one part of the equation. The successful deployment of MIVC hinges entirely on its adoption by major mobile OS developers, namely Apple and Google. As of the announcement, neither company has publicly confirmed support for this specific feature. While Apple has committed to adopting RCS for messaging, this does not automatically extend to the new video call standard. Therefore, a timeline for when users might see this functionality remains uncertain.

Beyond video calling, RCS Universal Profile 4.0 also introduces other enhancements to the messaging experience. The standard includes support for text formatting, enabling users to apply styles like bold, italics, and strikethrough. Furthermore, it allows for the sharing of higher-quality audio, video, and image files compared to previous standards. These additions aim to bring RCS closer to the feature-rich experience offered by dedicated messaging apps, but the headline feature of interoperable video calls remains contingent on future platform support.

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