Unified Messaging with RCS on iOS

What is RCS Messaging?

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is often seen as the successor of SMS. It's an upgraded messaging protocol that offers many features available on popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram Messaging. Similar to SMS, RCS messaging makes use of a phone’s native messaging app and relies on leveraging carrier networks or internet to deliver its messages. RCS messages are sent over Wi-Fi when it's available, or mobile data otherwise.

This would mean that RCS benefits from the same powerful reach of SMS, right? Well, there was one big caveat - RCS was not natively supported on all operating systems. Not yet, at least.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2024 keynote focused on "Apple Intelligence," adding AI features across all Apple products. But the standout announcement for business communication is that RCS is coming to iOS 18.

RCS Unifies Android and iOS

According to Statista, Apple's operating system iOS is becoming increasingly popular. While more than half of the smartphone users worldwide own Android operated phones, iOS is on the rise among the younger generations. Around 35% of Millennials owned an iPhone 2023, followed closely by 31% of Generation Z.

RCS not being available on iOS was a big threat to its popularity, because it meant less reach and an unoptimized messaging experience between Android and iOS users. Now that Apple has confirmed that it'll adopt RCS messaging (after years of pressure from users, competitors and lawmakers), the future for RCS looks very promising.

RCS boasts a lot of features similar to Apple's iMessage and other popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp, including typing indicators, high-resolution media sharing and stickers and gifs. With the added benefit that it'll align with messaging protocols of other operating systems, unifying the way users communicate and bridging the gap between iPhone and Android interactions.

Currently, interactions between iPhones and Android phones feel archaic, to put bluntly. SMS is the only native messaging channel that can be used to communicate between the two operating systems, which means that the messages cannot contain rich media or modern features. Apple supporting RCS on its devices means that users texting between iPhone and Android phones can now benefit from rich features such as:

• Group chats

• Read receipts

• High-res media sharing

• Gifs

Apple intends for iMessage and RCS to exist alongside each other. iMessage will still have features exclusive to iPhone users, while RCS will (eventually) replace SMS and MMS.

Benefits of RCS for Businesses

The fact that Apple will support RCS in the close future is great news for businesses. When a communication channel is not supported by an operating system, up to half of the target group of a business cannot be reached - which is an issue for obvious reasons.

Whereas businesses now rely on SMS, both as a main communication channel and as a fallback, to reach their customers, RCS will soon be able to do the same - but with added benefits!

RCS offers businesses verified user profiles for added security, while also offering the rich media features that have become a staple of modern messaging such as:

• Full enterprise (verified) branding profiles including business information pages

• Verified sender IDs

• Clickable response buttons

• Multiple-choice carrousels

RCS Business Messaging via CM.com

With over 25 years of experience and connections with 1000+ mobile carriers worldwide, CM.com will get your message out there. The 6.7 billion SMS messages we send out each year can easily be upgrade to RCS messaging with verified profiles to build that trust with your customers and offer a seamless customer experience, regardless of smartphone OS preference. Send promotional messages with personalized offers and strengthen security with verified sender profiles and two-factor authentication (2FA).

Don't just take our word for it - hear it from our customers! Cymba, a trusted partner for top UK charities, including the RSPCA, UNICEF and Macmillian Cancer Support, achieved a 50% uplift compared to SMS in response rates with RCS, elevating engagement to and for its charity partners.

Integrate RCS via our Connectivity platform and profit from our expertise in the field and our omniichannel capabilities. We offer one platform for all conversations. Benefit from multiple communication channels via one easily integrated API. Reach your customers on their preferred communication channels and elevate your customer engagement.