What is RCS ?

Question

What is Rich Communication Services (RCS), and how does it work?

Applies To

• Rich Communication Services
• Messaging

Answer

Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is a communication protocol developed to replace traditional SMS with a more dynamic messaging experience. Unlike basic text-based SMS, RCS is an internet-based service that operates through mobile network operators, allowing users to enjoy an expanded set of features that feel more like those in popular chat apps. RCS is managed by carriers, which means it works natively within the default messaging app on many Android devices, provided the carrier supports it.

What features does RCS offer compared to SMS?

• Real-time chat: Users can see when others are typing, giving a more interactive and immediate experience.
• High-resolution media sharing: RCS supports the sharing of high-quality images and videos, without the compression limits of MMS.
• Read receipts and typing indicators: Similar to other chat apps, RCS shows when a message has been read and when the recipient is typing a response.
• Group chat: RCS makes it easy to communicate with multiple contacts at once, offering the functionality of group messaging with advanced features.

These capabilities make RCS function more like an app-based messaging service while still being integrated with standard mobile network messaging.