RCS (Rich Communication Services)

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the successor standard to SMS. It brings rich media, a brand logo and a verified sender straight into the phone's native messaging app, especially on Android. Unlike SMS, the recipient sees images, buttons and read receipts.

What is RCS?

RCS stands for Rich Communication Services and is the modern successor to the classic SMS. While an SMS is limited to 160 characters of plain text, RCS supports images, videos, carousels, reply buttons, location sharing and read receipts, all inside the phone's pre-installed messaging app.

The key building block for businesses is RCS Business Messaging (RBM): a verified sender with brand name, logo and a blue checkmark. The recipient sees at a glance that the message is genuine and not from an impostor.

In practice, RCS is primarily an Android topic, but since iOS 18 (late 2024) iPhones receive RCS too, provided the mobile carrier supports it. Verified branded messages (RBM) reach iPhones in select markets, including Germany with supporting carriers. Around 64 million people in Germany can be reached via RCS; actual reach depends on your audience's device mix and network.

RCS, SMS and WhatsApp compared

The three channels are easy to tell apart:

  • SMS: maximum reach, works on every phone, but text only. Strong for time-critical codes and reminders.
  • RCS: rich media plus a verified sender, without the customer needing an extra app. Depends on device and network.
  • WhatsApp: highest engagement, cross-platform, but bound to Meta's rules and opt-in.

RCS sits in between: richer than SMS, without WhatsApp's app requirement. Businesses that run several channels in parallel combine SMS reach with rich media where it is available and pick the right channel for each occasion.

A practical example

A furniture retailer sends a delivery notification. Over SMS it would simply read: "Your sofa arrives tomorrow between 8 and 12." Over RCS the customer sees a photo of the ordered sofa, a "Confirm slot" button, a second "Reschedule" button and the company's verified logo.

The customer taps "Confirm," the route is locked in and the call to dispatch is avoided. If RCS is unavailable on the recipient's device, the message automatically falls back to SMS so nobody is left out.

RCS and SMS with SendSeven

SendSeven is a unified messaging platform for WhatsApp, SMS, email, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram and live chat. RCS is planned as a future channel; SMS is already a core part of the platform and handles the fallback role today. Every channel comes together in one unified inbox, GDPR-compliant, EU-hosted and built in Germany.