Rich Communication Services (RCS): branded messaging at scale

RCS transforms traditional SMS by supporting features like branded and verified sender IDs, rich media, and interactive content, offering a more personalized and engaging messaging experience.

RCS will need to be enabled for your account on your existing messaging API setup. If RCS isn't supported by the recipient's phone or carrier, it will automatically switch back to SMS.

Google has partnered with major mobile carriers to bring full RCS coverage to many countries around the world—and support is growing all the time.

RCS is currently available on Android phones and some Samsung devices. (Apple plans to support it later in 2024.) The most common way to receive RCS messages is via the Google Messages app. To check if your phone supports RCS, open Google Messages, choose Settings from the menu in the top right and then select Chat Features. RCS requires users to opt in. For newer phones, this can be done during phone setup.

RCS Business Messaging includes branded messaging and verified sender IDs, and will eventually encompass additional capabilities such as rich media and interactive content. Please note that feature availability will vary by country and mobile carrier.

If the recipient’s device does not support RCS, the message will be delivered as a standard SMS or MMS.

Yes. RCS offers more security features than traditional SMS. Messages are transmitted over the internet and can include end-to-end encryption in certain cases, providing better protection against interception and unauthorized access. This makes RCS a more secure option for businesses looking to engage with customers.

Create more engaging and interactive conversations with your customers through rich multimedia (images, videos), interactive buttons, carousels, and branded messaging. These enhanced capabilities significantly improve customer engagement, boost brand visibility, and drive higher conversion rates.