Google has long offered Apple a public invitation, the messaging system RCS (rich communication services) introduced an important feature for this entire protocol group messages are now end-to-end encrypted.

Until now, RCS already offered end-to-end encryption for one-to-one messaging. This feature prevents messages from being read by third parties. it is only viewed and stored by the sender and receiver. With the introduction of this feature in group chats, messages are only visible to members of a group.

The new feature is active by default:

With end-to-end encryption for group chats, RCS will be active by default on all chats for new and old users. However, users who wish to do so can also choose not to chat with RCS. RCS, in the messaging app on both Android and Wear OS can be used.

iOS chats still use the old method:

RCS will not be available in a group chat or one-on-one chats, as Apple still does not support RCS. Therefore Chats between Android and iOS are not end-to-end encrypted. Apple users can only benefit from end-to-end encryption when chatting with Apple and Android users only when chatting with Android users.