We're excited to announce the private beta launch of RCS (Rich Communication Services), the latest addition to our messaging channels! This marks a significant step in enhancing our communication capabilities, allowing businesses to engage with customers in a more dynamic and feature-rich way.
What is RCS?
RCS is the next evolution of SMS, enabling businesses to interact with their customers using features that go beyond traditional text messaging. With RCS, businesses can create richer, more interactive conversations, similar to popular messaging apps but within the Messages app in Android devices.
Here’s what RCS offers:
Rich media support: Send high-resolution images, videos, and GIFs.
Interactive buttons: Include quick reply options, call-to-action buttons, and more.
Read receipts: See when a message is read.
Branded messaging: Customize your messages with your brand’s name, logo, and colors.
Enhanced security: With verified sender identification, customers know they’re communicating with your business.
RCS in iOS 18
As mentioned in this post, Apple has added support for person-to-person (P2P) RCS messaging in iOS 18. However, carrier support remains limited. For instance, no carriers in the Netherlands currently support RCS, and even in countries where RCS is available, not all carriers offer support. For a complete list of carrier capabilities, please refer to Apple's support page.
That said, it is still unclear when, or if, Apple will support RCS Business Messaging (RBM), which is the channel, we at Notificare, plan to release soon. We anticipate RBM support later this year, possibly with the launch of iOS 18.1.
Why RCS Matters
With RCS, brands can build stronger, more engaging relationships with customers. RCS messages feel more like chat conversations, making interactions smoother and more natural. Whether you're sending appointment reminders, delivering promotions, or providing customer support, RCS ensures a more seamless and captivating customer experience.
Additionally, RCS is poised to significantly increase open rates and engagement, as messages are more interactive and personalized than traditional SMS.
While RCS brings exciting new features, it's important to note that not all devices and carriers currently support RCS messaging. In cases where RCS is unavailable, Notificare will automatically fall back to SMS.
This ensures that communication remains seamless, even if the rich features of RCS cannot be utilized. Though SMS lacks the interactive capabilities of RCS, it still provides reliable and widespread reach, ensuring that your messages are delivered to all customers, regardless of their device or network.
Private Beta Program
During this private beta period, our team and selected businesses will have the opportunity to explore and test RCS as a messaging channel. We are currently not accepting any more beta testers, but we are committed to accelerating development through the end of the year to make RCS available to more of you.
As always, we are available via our Support Channel for any question you might have.