What Are RCS Basic Messages

RCS Basic Messages are part of the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol, designed to enhance traditional mobile messaging. Despite the advanced features typically associated with RCS Business Messaging (RBM), Basic Messages closely resemble SMS (Short Message Service) in their functionality, focusing solely on delivering plain text messages (including links) without the rich media or advanced features seen in full RCS Business Messaging implementations.

RCS Basic Messages Key Characteristics

• Plain Text Messages:
  Just like SMS, RCS Basic Messages are limited to text-based communication. They do not support rich content such as images, videos, or location sharing. The 160 character limit of the messages is also similar to SMS.

• Verified Sender Profiles:
  All RCS solutions offer verified sender profiles and branded messaging. This helps to maintain a trustworthy presence with minimal effort.

• Limited Features:
  RCS Basic Messages do not offer some of the features that RCS offers, like interactive buttons or links, or group messaging capabilities. Basic messages do support read receipts (showing when the message is read), and links in the text.

• Fallback to SMS:
  If RCS is unavailable due to network issues or device incompatibility, RCS Basic Messages can seamlessly revert to traditional SMS, ensuring that communication remains uninterrupted.

Use Cases for RCS Basic Messages

RCS Basic Messages are useful in situations where only text-based communication will suffice, and more often than not, where no response is expected. The most common use cases for RCS Basic Messages are:

1. Security and Fraud Prevention

RCS Basic Messages are ideal for sending out OTPs (one time passwords). OTP messages are one-way texts, and plain text will suffice. The verified sender profiles, embedded in the RCS Business Messaging protocol, help create customer trust and prevent fraudsters from imitating legitimate businesses.

2. One-Off Updates and Announcements

Basic Messages are also great for delivering announcements or updates. Including a link in these messages can increase traffic to your website or landing pages.

Conclusion

RCS Basic Messages are an important part of the RCS protocol, providing text-based communication similar to SMS but with improved reliability and delivery through IP-based networks. While they lack the advanced features of RCS Business Messaging, they play a crucial role in ensuring universal text communication, especially during the transition from legacy SMS to modern rich messaging. As RCS adoption continues to grow, RCS Basic Messages will remain a key component of mobile communication, ensuring compatibility and continuity across devices and networks.