What is RCS? The next generation of business messaging

What is RCS?

RCS stands for Rich Communication Services. It’s a new kind of messaging that works like SMS, but with extra features.

Instead of plain text, RCS lets you send high-quality images, buttons, videos, carousels, and more—all inside your customer’s regular message app (no downloads needed). Think of it as upgrading SMS to something smarter, richer, and more engaging.

What is RCS Business Messaging (RBM)?

RCS Business Messaging is how companies use RCS to talk to customers. You can send helpful messages containing:

• Appointment reminders with a “Confirm” button
• Delivery updates with a map
• Promotional offers with product images
• Customer service chat with quick replies

And because your business gets verified, customers see your brand name and logo—not just a random number. Dive deeper into the difference between RCS and RBM.

Why use RCS instead of SMS?

SMS still works, but it hasn’t changed much in over 25 years. RCS is built for how people communicate today in 2025. It lets you show your brand, include visuals, and make it easier for customers to take action—all within the message itself.

With RCS, businesses can send messages that are more than just text. You can add product images, clickable buttons, and even show when your message has been read. It’s a richer, more dynamic way to connect—and customers notice the difference. In many cases, RCS messaging leads to better response rates and stronger engagement  compared to a standard SMS.

Who can benefit from RCS business messaging

If your business already sends SMS—for updates, promotions, reminders, or support—you’re likely a good fit for RCS. It’s especially useful for industries where customer interaction matters, like retail, logistics, travel, finance, or healthcare.

What makes RCS so practical is that it uses the customer’s existing messaging app. Customers don’t need to download a new app or learn a new platform. Messages simply arrive with a more polished and interactive experience. Explore more RCS use cases.

Why RCS is worth considering

RCS messaging gives your business more room to create helpful, engaging conversations—without leaving the native messaging app your customers already use. It’s fast, visual, and easy to use.

But it’s not just about good design. One of the biggest advantages of RCS is trust. Every business using RCS goes through a verification process. Once you’re verified, your messages show up with your brand name, logo, and colors—no random short codes or anonymous senders. And yes, once your brand is registered, only your business can send messages under your name. That makes it clear to customers that the message is truly from you.

Because messages are sent over a secure network, not the open SMS channel, RCS also reduces the risk of spoofing or phishing. That’s a big step forward for protecting both your brand and your customers.

Is RCS messaging widely available in 2025?

Yes – and more so than ever before. RCS is now supported on nearly all Android devices and, as of iOS 18, Apple has officially joined the RCS ecosystem. This means businesses can finally reach both Android and iPhone users with feature-rich, branded, and interactive messages.

RCS has been available on Android devices for years via Google Messages, giving businesses access to a large share of mobile users. However, the real turning point came when Apple started rolling out RCS support with iOS 18 in late 2024. Initially limited to peer-to-peer communication, iOS 18.1 introduced support for application-to-person (A2P) RCS Business Messaging (RBM) in beta—enabling brands to deliver richer business messages to iPhone users. With the release of iOS 18.4 in April 2025, Apple expanded RCS support to select carriers in markets like Germany and Spain.

While RBM is not yet live in the Nordic region, companies can already start with Basic RCS. This allows you to send SMS messages with the verified branding and trust markers of RCS, offering a future-ready messaging experience even before full RCS rollout in your region.

How to start with RCS Business Messaging (RBM)

Getting started with RBM is easier than you might think. The first step is working with a trusted messaging provider like LEKAB. They’ll help with registering your business and manage the setup with mobile operators.

Once your business is verified, you can begin sending branded and interactive messages to your customers—messages that not only stand out but also deliver measurable results.