RCS Messaging – What you need to know

My first time hearing the word RCS Messaging, let me give you a background story.

I sent SMS to a contact from my Android phone and was not debited the N6 (Six Naira) SMS charge. Not only was I stunned, but I was also inquisitive, so I dug deeper.

I sent more SMS to the same contact but was still not debited. Later in the day, I decided to send another SMS while my internet data was turned off but got a delivery failed notification. I discovered that this feature allows me to send SMS using internet data alone. It was however selective about when to use internet data or my SIM credit balance to send SMS, so I decided to research more about what this feature actually means.

RCS stands for Rich Communication Services. It is a protocol that originated in 2008 as a potential replacement for SMS messaging.

Unlike SMS, which runs over a voice-only cellular connection, RCS requires a mobile data connection. One of the main advantages of RCS is that its underlying technology allows for better integration with smartphones. It therefore has functions such as messages that open in other apps like browsers and maps, as well as enhanced multimedia support compared to SMS.

Regarding the part about it being selective of when to use internet data or SIM credit balance, one important thing to note is that your recipient’s phone must also support RCS in order to receive RCS messages. If not, they will receive your messages as SMS.

There is literally no difference in the format of the message, the technology which is used to send the message is what differs. More like travelling from Lagos to Abuja using Air Peace or ValueJet.

While RCS is well on its way to becoming the universal standard for smartphones, it is unlikely to fully replace SMS.

Since full RCS functionality requires a mobile data connection, it offers little benefit for older devices with voice-only cellular connections.