Background
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is the next generation of SMS. RCS combines allthe advantages of modern chat apps directly in your regular mobile messagingapp. In practice, this means that you don't need to install any special apps,as you do to use WhatsApp, Messenger, Supertext Messenger or similar services.
For those who develop AI applications, RCS opens up powerful opportunities. Better media, chatbot support and detailed analytics combined with voice agents create entirely new ways to communicate with users.
Here are some areas where RCS surpasses traditional SMS:
· Ability to share high-quality images and videos without poor compression.
· Ability to receive read receipts.
· Ability for companies to communicate with a verified profile (agent).
How RCS works
RCS runs on standardized protocols defined by the GSMA Universal Profile, which ensures that everything works between different operators and devices.
The technology has three main components:
· RCS clients: The messaging apps on your phone.
· RCS servers: Operator systems that handle message traffic.
· Interconnect systems: Infrastructure that allows messages to be sent between different operators.
Unlike SMS(which uses old technology over the signaling channel), RCS uses IP-based communication. This is why it can handle media and interactive features. To help businesses and developers get started quickly, Spirius offers a powerful API that you can find in our Developer Zone.
Key features for RCS
Media features
SMS limits you to 160 characters and MMS to about 300 KB when using interconnect. With RCS, you can share files up to 100 MB. This means high-resolution images, videos and audio without compromising quality. You can share JPEG, PNG, and GIF images, MP4 and 3GPP videos, and MP3 and AAC audio files. This also means you can share voice recordings or AI-generated content directly in the conversation.
Read receipt
Previously in SMS, you received a delivery receipt, but in RCS there is also a read receipt. A read receipt shows when someone has seen your message.
Support for verified sender
RCS is ideal for businesses as it requires a verified company profile (known as an agent), which means that the recipient knows exactly who is sending the message. The combination of interactive buttons with images and text also allows for quick responses. RCS enables brands to use media and interactive elements that significantly improve consumer trust and receptivity to messages compared to traditional SMS campaigns. Business communication platforms can thus integrate these RCS features to create more engaging customer experiences.
Challenges in implementing RCS
Despite its potential, RCS faces several obstacles that you should be aware of before getting involved:
Fragmented global implementation
Although over 90 mobile operators have already launched RCS, implementation varies greatly, creating inconsistencies for developers. However, this problem will naturally be resolved over time.
Technical complexity
Building with RCS means dealing with compatibility between different networks, creating SMS fallbacks, and working within different API limitations. This challenge is solved if you use the Spirius API.
Higher costs
RCS often costs more than traditional SMS, requiring careful ROI calculations for business implementations. But there are also cost savings, such as support for 24-hour conversations with potentially hundreds of messages at the price of one message. With this in mind, there are solutions that can offer savings compared to SMS.
Summary
To summarize the possibilities and advantages of RCS compared to other messaging services, it is:
· No app needed.
· Verified sender.
· Support for text, images, videos, files, buttons, and conversations.
· And, not least, you don't need an app or specific user, RCS addresses (like SMS) the phone number.
Author: Bertil Hedén, Business Development, Spirius AB
