Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a communication protocol designed to enhance traditional SMS (Short Message Service) by offering a broader range of features and functionalities. Here are the technical details:
- Objective:
- RCS aims to replace SMS messages with a richer text-message system.
- It provides phonebook polling for service discovery and supports in-call multimedia transmission.
- Key Features:
- Enhanced Messaging: RCS enables features like read receipts, typing indicators, and group chats.
- Multimedia Sharing: Users can share images, videos, and other media during conversations.
- Service Discovery: RCS allows phonebook-based discovery of services available to users.
- In-Call Multimedia: Users can exchange multimedia content during voice calls.
- Architecture:
- RCS is part of the broader IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).
- It involves interactions between mobile carriers and between phones and carriers.
- Google Messages supports RCS and provides end-to-end encryption for chats.
- History:
- The RCS initiative began in 2007, and the GSM Association (GSMA) officially adopted it in 2008.
- The Universal Profile, published in 2016, ensures interconnection between carriers.
- As of 2023, there are 800 million active RCS users on Google’s platform.
- Marketing Names:
- RCS has been marketed as Advanced Messaging, chat features, joyn, SMSoIP, Message+, and SMS+.
