Apple plans to make messaging between iPhones and Androids easier

In a major reversal, Apple Inc. plans to adopt a technological standard next year that will allow text messaging to operate more smoothly between iPhones and Android devices.

The company had pushed back on the standard — known as RCS — for more than a year, even as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and others pressed Apple to adopt the technology. RCS, short for rich communication services, is an upgrade over standard SMS and MMS texting that’s backed by the GSM Association.

The technology allows more texting features to be shared over phones on different platforms. For instance, Apple users will be able to text Android users over Wi-Fi and not just via cellular networks.