Branded messaging means your communication can feature your company logo, verified sender profile and brand colors as part of the message. This ensures recipients recognize and trust the sender.
A carousel presents a horizontal row of rich cards that end users can swipe through and interact with to view further details or take action. Each card can display key information such as images and interactive buttons.
Fallback to SMS ensures that if an RCS message can’t be delivered – often because the user’s network doesn’t support RCS or their device isn’t compatible – the system automatically sends a regular SMS instead. This guarantees message delivery and ensures communication isn’t interrupted, even if the richer RCS format isn’t available.
OTT (Over-The-Top) messaging apps are internet-based services like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger that allow people to send messages, photos and other rich media using a data connection instead of traditional mobile networks. Unlike OTT apps, RCS doesn’t require end users to download a special app or set up a new account.
RBM stands for RCS Business Messaging. It is a platform designed for brands to send interactive and branded messages to users over Rich Communication Services. It gives businesses verified profiles, branding capabilities and advanced message formats. Note that Google has discontinued this term and has opted for “RCS for business” instead.
RCS stands for Rich Communications Services and is a messaging protocol for improved messaging experiences for Apple and Android devices. It offers an app-like experience (like Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger) with rich content like text, images, carousels and Call-To-Action (CTA-buttons), but in the user’s native mobile inbox, just like SMS.
An RCS Agent is a verified, branded business identity used to send RCS messages within the native messaging app. Recipients see messages from a verified sender profile, complete with company name, logo and contact details.
Basic: 160-character A2P text messages with URL previews, verified senders, read receipts and SMS-to-RCS transition. Cost comparable to SMS.
Single: Rich multimedia messages with images, buttons and carousels. Slightly higher cost than SMS.
Conversational: Two-way messaging via A2P/P2A with rich RCS features like cards, carousels and replies. IDeal for chatbots and conversions. Charged per 24-hour session.
A rich card is a rectangular message unit featuring an image or video thumbnail, text content and actionable buttons for instant replies or interactions. Rich cards can be sent individually or arranged in carousels.
RCS uses verified sender profiles so recipients know who is reaching out. With each RCS message, the Sender ID is clickable so users can tap it to see brand details about the sender, such as company name, logo, banner and verification badge.