‘Not Available For All’—Apple Changes iPhone Messaging Next Week

InnovationCybersecurity‘Not Available For All’—Apple Changes iPhone Messaging Next WeekByZak Doffman,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Zak Doffman writes about cybersecurity, surveillance and privacy.Follow AuthorMay 09, 2026, 12:43am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.All change for iMessage.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIt’s finally here — almost. Almost 18-months after the FBI warned Americans to stop texting between iPhone and Android, Apple has fixed the problem. Next week, iOS 26.5 should bring encrypted cross-platform messaging for the first time. But Apple warns this “is not available to all." That availability affects devices — suggesting not all iPhones will be capable of sending fully secure RCS messages — and also carriers, which affects even iPhones with the upgrade. And it’s this second type of availability that’s the bigger issue.Forbes‘Increasingly Urgent’—Microsoft Issues Password And 2FA WarningBy Zak DoffmanWhen you send a WhatsApp message it is always end-to-end encrypted. That’s because WhatsApp controls all “ends” of the chat. The clients (apps) ensure that every message is secure. That encryption can never fall away.It’s the same when you send an iMessage to other Apple users — the infamous blue bubbles. Every iMessage is fully encrypted. It can’t send messages any other way. If one “end” of the chat is not using iMessage on an Apple device, the bubble is green and it’s clearly noted that this is a text or RCS message.MORE FOR YOUEncrypted RCS — "not available to all."The Mac ObserverWith Google Messages it’s more complex. If all “ends” are using an updated version of Google Messages, then RCS messages are fully encrypted. But it’s not as clear when that encryption is not running. Users need to check.That’s even more acute with the new upgrade. Apple’s and Google’s deployment of fully encrypted RCS re...