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RCS is often called the next version of SMS, and for businesses it can look very different on the customer's screen: your brand name and logo, pictures, buttons. But it only works on numbers that can receive it. This guide explains what RCS is, how it differs from SMS, and how to find out which numbers in your list support it
What RCS is
RCS stands for Rich Communication Services. It is a messaging standard from the GSMA, the association of mobile operators, and it is built to replace classic SMS on phones. Instead of the mobile network's text channel, RCS messages travel over mobile data or Wi-Fi
For people, that means features they know from chat apps, right in the phone's normal messaging app:
- read receipts and typing indicators
- photos and videos in good quality
- group chats
- long messages without being split into parts
On Android, RCS runs in Google Messages, where it is called RCS chats. Apple added RCS support to the iPhone with iOS 18, where the mobile carrier supports it
RCS for businesses
For companies, the interesting part is RCS Business Messaging. A business message can show:
- a verified sender with your company name and logo
- rich cards with an image, a title and a short text
- buttons such as "Track order", "Book now" or "Call us"
- carousels with several products side by side
All of that happens inside the default messaging app, so the customer does not need to install anything
SMS and RCS side by side
| SMS | RCS | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 160 characters per part (70 with Arabic, other scripts or emoji) | Long messages in one piece |
| Pictures and video | Only as MMS, often low quality | Built in, good quality |
| Sender | A number or a short name | Verified name and logo |
| Buttons and cards | No | Yes |
| Read receipts | No | Yes |
| Needs mobile data | No | Yes |
When RCS is not available on the receiving phone, messages usually fall back to SMS. That keeps them arriving, but your rich content turns into plain text, and you pay SMS prices for it
Why check your list first
RCS campaigns are planned differently from SMS. Knowing your RCS reach in advance helps you:
- Estimate the audience. You know how many people will see the rich version before you build it
- Split the list. Send the rich message to RCS numbers and a short SMS to the rest, instead of letting long messages fall back badly
- Compare channels. Together with a WhatsApp check, you see which channel reaches most of your list
How the RCS check works
With the RCS Checker on PWF Platform you upload your list (a .txt or .csv file with one number per line, each with its country code) and get two files back: numbers that can receive RCS messages and numbers that cannot. Duplicates and invalid lines are removed first, so you only pay for the numbers that are checked
Things to keep in mind
- RCS support changes. People turn RCS chats on or off, change phones and change carriers. Check again before larger campaigns
- A result is a snapshot. It tells you whether a number could receive RCS at the time of the check, not whether the person will read your message
- Permission still matters. Business messages need the same consent as SMS. Only send to people who agreed to hear from you
