Rich Communication Services (RCS or Chat for short) is a new messaging protocol, intended to replace SMS and MMS on Android. RCS messaging is an alternative to SMS and a rival to the iMessage service from Apple. RCS offers richer features, including many of those available on platforms like WhatsApp and Signal.
The new app service also mimics Apple’s iMessage in some ways. RCS Chat was created in 2007 by a group of mobile industry players. RCS is based on GSMA’s Universal Profile, an industry agreed-upon standard for deploying RCS. Google announced that it was working on supporting RCS on Android in 2016. As an upgrade to the SMS messaging protocol.
What is RCS Messaging on Android?
RCS Chat contains several exciting features that make SMS obsolete. One of them is the ability to see read receipts for your sent messages on top of the delivery time. You can also see a typing indicator, a standard feature in modern instant messaging platforms.
One of the best features is that you can send and receive larger files (up to 105MB). So photos and videos will send in much higher resolution than MMS. Also, you can react to a received message. Read more about whats Google has to say about RCS.
RCS works differently, relative to SMS. It sends messages over mobile data or Wi-Fi, as long as the other person is also using RCS. This contrasts with SMS, which sends over your mobile carrier’s network. So its just another IM service similar to Whatsapp messenger.
SMS and RCES Comparison
SMS has its own features that make it distinct from modern instant messaging platforms and even RCS. You do not need a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection to use SMS. SMS has a minimal barrier for entry, with only a cellular connection and signal needed. For RCS, you’ll need to connect to the internet first.
Another distinctive feature is that you don’t need to download an extra app to use SMS. Virtually all phones, including feature (“dumb”) phones, come with a dedicated SMS app. On the other hand, RCS is not universally supported by every Android smartphone yet.
And not every Android device comes preinstalled with Google’s Messages app. As a result, using RCS takes more than just downloading a compatible app, unlike other free messaging apps for Android.
Sharing multimedia files is also not possible with SMS. This is done using MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Service. MMS has a meager file limit, which is why shared images are typically blurry. But RCS surpasses this limit, enabling you to send files of up to 105MB in size.
Lastly, RCS supports group messaging, read receipts, message reactions, and a typing indicator, all of which are not available on SMS and MMS. Chat also supports various data formats, including GIFs, stickers, location, photos, documents, videos, and similar.