RCS stands for Rich Communication Services. It is a protocol that emerged in 2008 as a possible replacement for SMS messaging. This article provides a brief history, along with its advantages over its predecessor, how to use it, and its possible future.
What is RCS? (& How It Will Change Texting Forever)
Due in part to the reliability and availability of SMS (it works with every mobile phone on the market), RCS failed to become the new standard. However, the technology saw a revival in 2016 when Google added an open-source RCS client to Android.
Since then, RCS has continued to grow. In addition to powering Google Messages on Android devices, Apple has announced that it will add RCS support to iOS devices by the end of 2024, effectively replacing SMS. iMessage, which runs over Wi-Fi and cellular networks, will continue to exist separately.
With Apple on board, RCS will be supported by all major U.S. carriers and is now built into Samsung phones. Thanks to its integration with Google Messages, RCS is well-positioned to become the new standard for Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T.
