Apple and Google Launch Beta Rollout of End‑To‑End encrypted RCS messaging across iOS and Android

Apple and Google have officially begun rolling out end‑to‑end encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging in beta for iPhone and Android users, marking a historic upgrade to cross‑platform texting security. Starting with iOS 26.5 and the latest Google Messages, conversations between iPhone and Android devices will now be encrypted by default, ensuring that only sender and receiver can read messages.

What’s New in RCS Encryption

• Cross‑platform security: For the first time, iPhone‑to‑Android RCS chats are end‑to‑end encrypted, preventing carriers, tech companies, or third parties from accessing messages.
• Default protection: Encryption is automatically enabled for new and existing RCS conversations; users will see a lock icon in chats to confirm security.
• Beta rollout: Available now for iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest Google Messages app.

Industry Collaboration

• Apple & Google partnership: Both companies worked with the GSMA to integrate encryption into the RCS Universal Profile 3.0 standard.
• Security protocol: The system is built on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, a modern cryptographic framework designed for scalable, secure messaging.
• Statements from leaders: Google’s Android head Samer Samat called it “Big news” and a “terrific milestone.” Sundar Pichai and Rick Osterloh praised the achievement. Apple emphasized that iMessage remains fully encrypted.

Features Beyond Encryption

• High‑quality media sharing (photos, videos)
• Typing indicators & read receipts
• Improved group chats
• Cross‑platform reactions and inline replies

Comparison: SMS vs RCS vs iMessage

SMS	RCS	iMessage
Basic text only	Rich media, group chats, reactions	Rich media, stickers, apps
No encryption	End‑to‑end encryption (beta rollout)	End‑to‑end encryption (default)
Carrier‑dependent	Internet‑based, cross‑platform	Apple ecosystem only
No read receipts	Read receipts, typing indicators	Read receipts, typing indicators

Key Takeaways for Users

• Update required: iPhone users must install iOS 26.5; Android users need the latest Google Messages.
• Carrier support: Both sender and receiver must be on carriers supporting the latest RCS profile.
• Gradual rollout: Encryption will expand automatically to all conversations over time.

Apple and Google Join Hands to Address Issue of Unwanted Tracking in iOS and Android

Apple and Google have recently announced their collaboration to address the issue of unwanted tracking using Bluetooth devices. The two companies have worked together to create an industry specification for Bluetooth tracking devices that makes it possible to alert users across both iOS and Android if such a device is unknowingly being used to track them. 

Google and Apple have jointly created an industry specification called "Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers" (DULT) for Bluetooth tracking devices. The goal is to alert users across both iOS and Android platforms if a Bluetooth tracking device is unknowingly being used to track them. Apple is implementing this capability in iOS 17.5, and Google is now launching this capability on Android 6.0+ devices.

In iOS 17.5, users will receive an alert message saying "[Item] Found Moving With You" if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is detected moving with them over time. This applies to devices like AirTag, Find My accessories, or other industry-compatible Bluetooth trackers. If a user receives this alert, they can view the tracker's identifier, play a sound to locate it, and access instructions to disable it.

On Android devices running Android 6.0+, users will receive a "Tracker traveling with you" warning when an unknown Bluetooth tracker is detected moving with them. Similar to iOS, they can identify the tracker, sound it, and find instructions to disable it. This functionality extends to Google's Find My Device network and other compatible devices.

Major Bluetooth tag manufacturers such as Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee have committed to making their future tags compatible with this new specification. This cross-platform collaboration, involving community and industry input, provides instructions and best practices for manufacturers to build unwanted tracking alert capabilities into their products.

Apple and Google are actively participating in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) via the Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers working group. Their aim is to develop an official standard for this technology, ensuring broad adoption and consistent implementation across the tracking tech industry.

Remember that not all existing trackers will trigger alerts, as some may lack compatibility with the newly introduced industry specification. However, this initiative represents a significant step toward enhancing user privacy and safety in the world of Bluetooth tracking devices.

Take Selfies Pictures without touching phone screens with GoCam App

Happy? Click! Sad? Click! Hungry? Click! Angry? Click! To all the selfie addicts out there, who just love clicking their photographs in every mood possible, your life has now been made easier by Crunchfish, a Swedish start-up.

The Swedish Start-up has come up with a unique app which lets the user take selfies or photographs of themselves without even touching the screen of their Smartphone. The application uses touchless technology for making this possible. Photographs can be taken from a distance of up to 3m.

This unique app has been appropriately named GoCam for iOS devices.  By using gestures to control your camera, the app provides an amazing camera for taking selfies and groupies without touching your phone screen. Now the user doesn't need to rush into her favourite pose or hold it for long time intervals just to get that perfect click. With GoCam, you just have to set your phone and click a photograph whenever you are ready with the app intelligent detect your gesture and click the photo.

In order to function properly, the mobile app accesses all the photographs on your Smartphone. To allow this, the user will have to go to settings, then click privacy, then select photos and then finally click GoCam.

The app is currently available only for iOS users. It can be downloaded free of cost right now but the offer is valid only for a limited time duration. The app was released on July 1, 2014 and is 24.9 MB in size.



Crunchfish, the company behind the app is based in the southern Swedish city of Malmo. It has a vision of simplifying interaction with mobile devices by providing a more intuitive touchless interface. The start-up was founded in 2010. Gesture recognition is considered as one of the best innovations made by the company till date. The company was even awarded as 2013 Red Herring 100 Europe Winner and recognized as a cutting edge technology company.

The company boosts that GoCam is the very first touchless camera application in the market with video recording, which allows the user to record videos touchless. The app lets the user capture spontaneous moments and then make the photos personal with filters and editing tools before sharing it with friends and family.

The app requires iOS 7.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.  GoCam has been specially optimized for iPhone 5.

[Top Image - Flickr]

Take Selfies Pictures without touching phone screens with GoCam App

Happy? Click! Sad? Click! Hungry? Click! Angry? Click! To all the selfie addicts out there, who just love clicking their photographs in every mood possible, your life has now been made easier by Crunchfish, a Swedish start-up.

The Swedish Start-up has come up with a unique app which lets the user take selfies or photographs of themselves without even touching the screen of their Smartphone. The application uses touchless technology for making this possible. Photographs can be taken from a distance of up to 3m.

This unique app has been appropriately named GoCam for iOS devices.  By using gestures to control your camera, the app provides an amazing camera for taking selfies and groupies without touching your phone screen. Now the user doesn't need to rush into her favourite pose or hold it for long time intervals just to get that perfect click. With GoCam, you just have to set your phone and click a photograph whenever you are ready with the app intelligent detect your gesture and click the photo.

In order to function properly, the mobile app accesses all the photographs on your Smartphone. To allow this, the user will have to go to settings, then click privacy, then select photos and then finally click GoCam.

The app is currently available only for iOS users. It can be downloaded free of cost right now but the offer is valid only for a limited time duration. The app was released on July 1, 2014 and is 24.9 MB in size.



Crunchfish, the company behind the app is based in the southern Swedish city of Malmo. It has a vision of simplifying interaction with mobile devices by providing a more intuitive touchless interface. The start-up was founded in 2010. Gesture recognition is considered as one of the best innovations made by the company till date. The company was even awarded as 2013 Red Herring 100 Europe Winner and recognized as a cutting edge technology company.

The company boosts that GoCam is the very first touchless camera application in the market with video recording, which allows the user to record videos touchless. The app lets the user capture spontaneous moments and then make the photos personal with filters and editing tools before sharing it with friends and family.

The app requires iOS 7.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.  GoCam has been specially optimized for iPhone 5.

[Top Image - Flickr]