iOS 18 was rolled out to iPhone users around the world on Monday. It includes changes such as home screen and lock screen customization, improved apps, and more options in the control center. The update also includes two new features for iOS that have long existed on Android: Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging and T9 dialing. The former claims to enhance the messaging experience, while the latter can make the dialing process faster.
RCS Messaging and T9 Dialing in iOS 18
Apple said it had finally launched RCS messaging on the iPhone after years of pressure from Google. RCS is a messaging system backed by the GSM Association and widely considered the successor to traditional SMS. Available in the Messages app, it offers end-to-end encryption for users who don’t have an Apple device, support for high-resolution media sharing, sending messages over Wi-Fi, and chat indicators.
Another new addition is T9 dialing in the Phone app. Users can dial anyone from their address book by typing in their name on the keypad – similar to typing in a name on a feature phone. They can enter the numbers that correspond to the first few letters of the recipient’s name.
While both of these features are now coming to iPhones with iOS 18, Android users have had access to them for years.
Other iOS 18 features
iOS 18 also brings call history to the iPhone. Users can also view a history of saved calls in the Notes app. Apple allows users to adjust icons and apply various color tints, allowing for deeper home screen and lock screen customization. They can also resize apps and widgets and rearrange them anywhere on the home screen.
The Control Center also gets more options, with the ability to add secondary pages and change the layout, plus a revamped Photos app, a new Passwords app, and other system-wide improvements.
Follow us On Social Media Google News and Twitter/X