Republic of Korea: Communications Commission issued guidance to Apple for introduction of next generation text and data transmission services

On 19 February 2025, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) issued administrative guidance to Apple, recommending the introduction of the next-generation messaging service (RCS) on iPhones. It aims to enable large file transfers and chat-style messaging between iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. It was highlighted that RCS is a more advanced messaging service compared to short message service, offering features including "writing" and "read" notifications and supporting file transfers of up to 300MB. The KCC recommended that Apple distribute a beta version for testing with mobile carriers, support large file transfers, and engage in continuous consultations during the service rollout. The guidance seeks to improve interoperability between iPhones and Galaxy phones in Korea, where RCS was previously only supported on Galaxy devices.