Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a communication protocol between mobile telephone carriers and between phone and carrier, aiming at replacing SMS messages with a text-message system that is richer, provides phonebook polling, and can transmit in-call multimedia. RCS is part of the broader IP Multimedia Subsystem. RCS allows users to create group chats with friends, send images and videos, get read receipts, and have support for end-to-end encryption. RCS messaging is the next-generation SMS with group chats, video, audio, and images. RCS makes it fast to support long messages, encryption, advanced group messaging, and enhanced rich media. Some of the features of RCS include:
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End-to-end encryption: RCS-based apps like Googles Messages support end-to-end encryption for all chats.
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High-resolution photos and videos: RCS allows users to share high-resolution photos and videos.
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Read receipts: RCS allows users to get read receipts, which show when someone has read or received their message.
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Group chats: RCS allows users to create group chats with friends.
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Location sharing: RCS integrates location sharing into the messaging app as well as other group chat features.
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File size limit: Unlike SMS and MMS, RCS messaging has a file size limit that spans into megabytes, not kilobytes. This means that users can send more multimedia content to their contacts, such as audio and video.
RCS is marketed as Advanced Messaging, chat features, joyn, SMSoIP, Message+, and SMS+. RCS is available from 88 operators in 59 countries with approximately 390 million users per month.
