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iOS 26 Allows Cellular Calls and SMS/RCS in Third-Party Apps in EU

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iOS 26 was announced nearly a month ago, but there is one change related to phone calls and messages that flew under our radar until now.

General Apps Messages and Phone Redux
As reported by German tech news website Heise last month, Apple has introduced new APIs that allow for developers to implement support for making cellular phone calls and sending and receiving SMS/MMS/RCS messages in third-party apps, but only iPhone users in the EU will be able to take advantage of this functionality.

These carrier-based capabilities have always been limited to Apple's Phone and Messages apps, so this is a big change. Apple likely expanded these features in response to current or anticipated regulations under the EU's Digital Markets Act.

Third-party apps could already offer Wi-Fi calling and messaging.

Apple says iPhone users in the EU will only be able to make cellular phone calls and/or send and receive SMS/MMS/RCS messages in a supported third-party app when they have selected the app as their default dialing app and/or default carrier messaging app on iOS 26. Otherwise, the functionality is not enabled.

These capabilities will not be available in third-party iPad apps, or in iPhone apps running on macOS or visionOS, according to Apple.

For the cellular phone call functionality in particular, even the developer of an app requires an Apple Developer account registered in the EU. Given how locked down these capabilities are, do not expect them to expand to the U.S. or elsewhere any time soon.

iOS 26 is currently in beta. The update should be released to the general public in September.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Tag: European Union
Related Forum: iOS 26

Top Rated Comments

DavidLeblond Avatar
DavidLeblond
10 months ago
I get it that this is due to the EU stuff but, wouldn't it be easiest just to make this available to everyone?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
10 months ago
This is exactly how it should be, worldwide.

For EU customers, this is enabling a better and more flexible overall computing device that is more adaptable to user needs and preferences.

It's absolutely mesmerizing to watch people argue against their own interests.

Why would you not want the ability to use any service you'd prefer as the back end for the Phone & Messages app?

There is zero drawback to having this as an option.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jeaz Avatar
Jeaz
10 months ago

This is absolutely insane. The privacy implications if Developers sell your Phone metadata for different purposes is real. This has been a HUGE issue on Android in the past. The EU deserves to be fought in the courts and this needs restrictions!
It's an option, you aren't forced to use a 3rd party app, but if you want, you can.

I have zero interest in using a 3rd party app for calls or sms personally, but maybe others do.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Le Big Mac Avatar
Le Big Mac
10 months ago

This is absolutely insane. The privacy implications if Developers sell your Phone metadata for different purposes is real. This has been a HUGE issue on Android in the past. The EU deserves to be fought in the courts and this needs restrictions!
This doesn't require anyone to use the third-party capabilities, though.

As for privacy, the EU actually has a privacy law, though take the point it isn't perfect.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
Chaos215bar2
10 months ago

This is absolutely insane. The privacy implications if Developers sell your Phone metadata for different purposes is real. This has been a HUGE issue on Android in the past. The EU deserves to be fought in the courts and this needs restrictions!
So… just don't use shady third-party dialers. Do you think Apple is getting rid of the Phone and Message apps in the EU or something?

Literally all this means is Apple might face some feature competition from third party apps using cellular services. Worst case if you don't intentionally use a third party app for these things is that maybe Apple picks up a cool feature or two that they never would have bothered with if they didn't have a little competition.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
211 Avatar
211
10 months ago

This is absolutely insane. The privacy implications if Developers sell your Phone metadata for different purposes is real. This has been a HUGE issue on Android in the past. The EU deserves to be fought in the courts and this needs restrictions!
This is optional, just like if people buy apps outside the App Store. If the user decides to change from the default app, that’s on the user

I wonder how many people will change the app just because they can? Maybe to WhatsApp. I suspect any change from default apps will come with a warning from Apple
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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