- Google Messages may be preparing for the GSMA to add MLS support to the RCS Universal Profile.
- MLS in the RCS UP would mean secure group messaging, even with iPhone users.
- Google continues to work on its own MLS support in Messages.
Rich Communication Services (RCS) has a posse. Or, at the very least, a cult of extremely enthusiastic proponents surrounding it, who want to share the good word about universal messaging. In all seriousness, RCS messaging really is packed with potential, and has the possibility to truly level the playing field when it comes to our ability to securely and clearly communicate all across the world, regardless of platform or carrier. Right now, though, implementation is bit irregular (to put it lightly), and key features lack universal support. We wonder if that could be getting better soon, as we discover a small change in Google Messages that might hint at RCS formalizing support for an important end-to-end encryption (E2EE) system.
Earlier this month we shared evidence for Messages starting early work on support for Messaging Layer Security (MLS). That’s a system designed to make E2EE work securely in group chats, and even chats spread across apps and platforms. While that was great to see, at the time there wasn’t any sign that Google’s interest in MLS with RCS would function any differently from its existing approach to E2EE there, implemented as a User Compatibility Exchange (UCE) add-on rather than a core component of the RCS Universal Profile (UP).