Webinar
Originally aired
The Future of Business Messaging - Why RCS?
Explore how Rich Communication Services (RCS) is transforming business messaging with interactive, multimedia capabilities that enhance customer engagement.
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Key takeaways
RCS delivers richer, more interactive messaging than SMS, with engagement rates that make a measurable business impact, including click-through rates up to 7x higher
Verified sender identity builds customer trust by replacing anonymous phone numbers with recognizable, branded profiles
Businesses that start planning now, from agent registration to use case design, will be positioned to lead as RCS support expands across devices and networks
About this webinar
Business messaging is evolving beyond SMS. In this LIVEWire session, SignalWire's Chelsea Batschke (Product Marketing Manager) and Steve Starr (Director of Carrier Operations) break down what Rich Communication Services (RCS) means for your campaigns. You'll get a technical overview of RCS and RCS Business Messaging (RBM), a look at why adoption is accelerating now that Apple and major US carriers are on board, and real-world examples of how industries like retail, finance, and healthcare use RCS to drive engagement. Whether you're planning your first rich messaging campaign or preparing to migrate from SMS, this session shows you how to get ready.
What you'll learn
What RCS is and how it differs from SMS and MMS
How RCS Business Messaging (RBM) enables verified brand identities, rich cards, carousels, quick replies, and in-chat actions
Why the US market is shifting now, with Apple's iOS 18 rollout and growing carrier support
How retail, finance, and healthcare are applying RCS to real customer interactions
How to register an RCS agent and prepare your messaging strategy with SignalWire
Speakers
What is RCS messaging?
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is the next generation of mobile messaging, designed to replace SMS and MMS. It supports high-quality images and video, verified sender identities, read receipts, typing indicators, and interactive elements like carousels and quick replies, all within the phone's native messaging app.
What is RCS Business Messaging (RBM)?
RCS Business Messaging (RBM) applies RCS capabilities to brand-to-consumer communication. It lets businesses message customers from a verified brand identity instead of a phone number, share rich media and documents, offer quick replies and CTAs, and handle actions like appointment confirmations and payments without the customer leaving the chat.
Is RCS replacing SMS?
RCS is positioned as the successor to SMS, but the transition is gradual. Businesses should adopt RCS where supported while keeping SMS and MMS as fallback channels for devices and networks that don't yet support it.
Does iPhone support RCS?
Yes. Apple added RCS support starting with iOS 18, with RCS Business Messaging support arriving in iOS 18.1. Combined with existing Android support, this brings RCS to the large majority of smartphones in the US.
Is RCS more effective than SMS for customer engagement?
Yes. Nearly 80% of consumers say RCS makes them more likely to engage with a brand, and RCS campaigns can achieve click-through rates up to 7x higher than SMS thanks to rich media, interactivity, and verified sender trust.
ow do businesses start sending RCS messages?
Businesses must first register an RCS agent, an approval process involving Google, aggregators, and mobile operators. From there, they can define use cases like marketing, customer service, or appointment reminders. SignalWire guides businesses through registration and campaign planning.
Which industries benefit most from RCS?
Retail, finance, and healthcare are early leaders. Retailers use RCS for in-chat purchases and product carousels, financial institutions use it for secure verified messaging and account alerts, and healthcare providers use it for appointment scheduling and reminders.
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