Rich Communication Services (RCS) Protocol
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A Rich Communication Services (RCS) Protocol is a communication protocol that enhances SMS messaging by enabling richer text features and advanced media functionalities.
- Context:
- It can (typically) be managed by GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association).
- It can (typically) support Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) by allowing the sharing of high-resolution images, videos, and audio files.
- It can (often) integrate with IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to provide a seamless messaging experience across various devices and networks.
- It can range from being a basic text messaging service to being an advanced communication platform.
- It can provide read receipts and typing indicators, enhancing user interaction.
- It can enable group chats, providing a richer conversational experience compared to traditional SMS.
- It can offer rich media sharing, including high-quality images, videos, and audio files, surpassing the capabilities of MMS.
- It can incorporate location sharing, allowing users to share their current location with contacts.
- It can integrate with business messaging, enabling businesses to send rich, interactive messages to customers.
- ...
- Example(s):
- RCS Release 1 (December 2008), which offered initial definitions for enriching voice and chat with content sharing, driven from an RCS enhanced address book.
- RCS Release 2 (August 2009), which added broadband access to RCS features, enhancing messaging and enabling file sharing.
- RCS Release 3 (February 2010), which focused on broadband devices as the primary device.
- RCS Release 4 (February 2011), which included support for LTE networks.
- RCS Release 5 (April 2012), which introduced features like IP voice/video calls, geolocation exchange, and compatibility with OMA CPM and SIMPLE IM standards.
- RCS Release 5.1 and later, which continued to refine and improve the RCS protocol with additional features and enhancements.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Short Message Service (SMS), which lacks advanced features like read receipts and rich media sharing.
- Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), which allows media sharing but with lower quality and fewer interactive capabilities compared to RCS.
- See: Short Message Service, Multimedia Messaging Service, IP Multimedia Subsystem, GSMA, Google Messages, Android (Operating System), Android 5, IOS, List of Android Smartphones, IPhone, Instant Messaging, Communication Protocol, Mobile Telephone, SMS, Service Discovery.
References
2024
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Communication_Services Retrieved:2024-6-7.
- 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 (for service discovery), and can transmit in-call multimedia. It is part of the broader IP Multimedia Subsystem. Google has added support for end-to-end encryption for all chats using RCS in their own app, Google Messages. End-to-end encryption is not a feature of RCS specified by GSMA, instead deferring to the individual messaging clients to establish encryption.
It is also marketed as Advanced Messaging, and was marketed as chat features, joyn, SMSoIP, Message+, and SMS+. In early 2020, it was estimated that RCS was available from 88 operators in 59 countries with approximately 390 million users per month. By November 2020, RCS was available globally in Google Messages on Android, provided directly by Google if the operator does not provide RCS. By 2023, there were 800 million active RCS users on Google's platform and 1.2 billion handsets worldwide supporting RCS.
- 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 (for service discovery), and can transmit in-call multimedia. It is part of the broader IP Multimedia Subsystem. Google has added support for end-to-end encryption for all chats using RCS in their own app, Google Messages. End-to-end encryption is not a feature of RCS specified by GSMA, instead deferring to the individual messaging clients to establish encryption.
2024
- Perplexity
- Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a communication protocol that aims to replace traditional SMS messaging with a richer, more interactive messaging experience.[2] It provides features similar to modern messaging apps like high-resolution media sharing, read receipts, typing indicators, and group chats, while leveraging the global reach of mobile networks.[1][3]
- Versions of RCS
- Release 1 (December 2008):** Offered initial definitions for enriching voice and chat with content sharing, driven from an RCS enhanced address book.[2]
- Release 2 (August 2009):** Added broadband access to RCS features, enhancing messaging and enabling file sharing.[2]
- Release 3 (February 2010):** Focused on broadband devices as the primary device.[2]
- Release 4 (February 2011):** Included support for LTE networks.[2]
- Release 5 (April 2012):** Introduced features like IP voice/video calls, geolocation exchange, and compatibility with OMA CPM and SIMPLE IM standards.[2]
- Release 5.1 and later:** Continued to refine and improve the RCS protocol with additional features and enhancements.[2]
- The GSMA has also developed the Universal Profile specification, which aims to ensure interoperability and a consistent user experience across different carriers and devices supporting RCS.[1][4]
- Citations:
[1] https://www.infobip.com/glossary/rcs-rich-communication-services [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Communication_Services [3] https://jibe.google.com [4] https://www.gsma.com/futurenetworks/rcs/ [5] https://support.google.com/messages/answer/13508703?hl=en