Rich Communication Services

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Rich Communication Services
Communication protocol
AbbreviationRCS
Purpose Instant messaging
Developer(s) GSMA
Introduction15 September 2008;16 years ago (2008-09-15)(original specifications)
16 November 2016;8 years ago (2016-11-16)(Universal Profile specifications)
Based on HTTP(S), SIP(S), (S)MSRP
OSI layer Application layer
Port(s) Unknown
Website www.gsma.com/futurenetworks/rcs/

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a communication protocol standard for instant messaging, primarily for mobile phones, developed and defined by the GSM Association (GSMA). It aims to be a replacement of SMS and MMS on cellular networks with more modern features including high resolution image and video support, typing indicators, file sharing, and improved group chat functionality. As for MMS, mobile service must be activated. Development of RCS began in 2007 but early versions lacked features and interoperability; a new specification named Universal Profile was developed and has been continually rolled out since 2017. [1]

Contents

RCS has been designed as an industry open standard [2] [3] to provide improved capabilities over basic text messaging, based on the Internet Protocol (IP). Its development has also been supported by mobile network operators to regain their influence against individual OTT (over-the-top) chat apps and services. [4] Additional features of RCS include presence information, location and multimedia sharing, video calling, and operation over mobile data or Wi-Fi, natively integrated in mobile phones without requiring the download of third-party apps. [5]

As of 2020, RCS has rolled out across 90 cell operators in 60 countries globally, [6] and has over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2023. [7] RCS can also be used anywhere without carrier support using Google Messages on Android, where it is provided via their own Jibe backend in place of a carrier's while still connected to the global RCS network, and additionally offer end-to-end encryption. [8] [9] Apple added support for RCS in Messages with iOS 18 in September 2024; RCS is also accessible through desktops via the web client of Google Messages [10] or via Microsoft Phone Link. [11]

Branding

RCS is also marketed as Advanced Messaging [12] and 5G Messaging (in China); [13] it was previously variously marketed as chat features, [14] enhanced chat, [15] joyn, [16] SMSoIP,[ citation needed ] and SMS+. [17]

Software support

An RCS thread on Xiaomi's messaging client, showing emojis, images, location, and a file, sent by the user Xiaomi RCS sent contents.png
An RCS thread on Xiaomi's messaging client, showing emojis, images, location, and a file, sent by the user

Samsung Electronics was one of the first major device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to support the RCS initiative and it commercially launched RCS capable devices in Europe in 2012 and in the United States in 2015. Following the launch of the new RCS Universal Profile specification, Samsung supported it on new devices since 2017 in its stock Messages app. [18] In December 2020, Samsung updated its One UI Messages app to also allow users to opt into RCS using Google's Jibe backend instead of carriers in certain regions. [19] The Samsung Messages client brands the RCS capability as chat features, and displays Enter chat message in the message box. [20] Starting in 2024, Samsung Messages is no longer coming preloaded on Galaxy phones sold in the United States market in favor of Google Messages. [21]

Mobile phones running Android with Google Play Services support RCS with its native messaging app, Google Messages, beginning with Android Lollipop. [22] [23] In June 2019, Google announced that it would begin to deploy RCS on an opt-in basis via the Messages app, with service compliant with the Universal Profile and hosted by Google (i.e. Jibe) rather than the user's carrier, if the carrier does not provide RCS. [24] [25] [26] Before 2023 the Google Messages app branded RCS communication as Chat, before it was renamed to RCS to be clearer. [14] In March 2024, it was reported that Google was "silently" blocking RCS on rooted Androids. [27]

Other flavors of Android such as Huawei's HarmonyOS in China also support RCS through native messaging clients (EMUI version 8.1+). [28]

In June 2024, Apple announced that support for RCS would be added to the Messages app in iOS 18; as with SMS, RCS is displayed with green message bubbles and buttons, although an RCS indicator is displayed in the message composer text field. [29] iOS 18 launched with support for RCS in September 2024. [30]

Universal profile RCS app support
AppPlatformCountryCarrier RCS support requiredNon-GSMA features over RCSNotes
Google Messages Android GlobalNo (Google Jibe provides RCS service directly if carrier does not) End-to-end encryption (Google Messages only)
Messages (Apple) iOS 18+GlobalYes
Samsung Messages Android GlobalYes
+Message Android, iOS JapanYes KDDI, NTT DOCOMO, and SoftBank. Does not connect to global RCS network. [31]
Multiple native messaging clients HarmonyOS, HyperOS ChinaYes

Development and history

Launch and "joyn"

The Rich Communication Suite industry initiative [32] was formed by a group of industry promoters in 2007. In February 2008 the GSM Association (GSMA) officially became the project home of RCS and an RCS steering committee was established by the organization, officially announced as Rich Communications Suite on 15 September 2008, [33] later known as Rich Communication Services. [34] The companies involved in launching it were: operators Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefonica and TeleSonera, network vendors Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks, and device vendors Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung. [35] The steering committee specified the definition, testing, and integration of the services in the application suite. [36] [37] [38]

By 2010, RCS had released Version 4 of its specification, however progress was slow and it had yet to be deployed on commercial subscriber services. [35] During this time, closed internet-based instant messaging services (known in the industry as "OTT" (over-the-top) providers) were rising in popularity. [35] To accelerate development, the RCS project released a new specification – RCS-e (e = "enhanced"), which included various iterations of the original RCS specifications. [35] At Mobile World Congress 2012, RCS-e was launched under the consumer brand name "joyn" [35] (a brand that has since been abandoned). The full list of carriers that agreed to support RCS-e at the time were AT&T, Bell Mobility, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, Jio, KPN, KT Corporation, LG U+, Orange, Orascom Telecom, Rogers Communications, SFR, SK Telecom, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telia Company, Telus, Verizon and Vodafone. [39] That year, the first RCS-e/Joyn services were rolled out by networks in Spain, Germany and the US. [35] [40]

However, the RCS standard struggled with fragmentation and incompatibility, [41] [42] with one industry analyst stating in 2015 that the project was a "zombie [..] infected with bureaucracy, complexity, and irrelevance". [43] A Mountain View-based startup called Jibe Mobile, headed and cofounded by Iranian-American engineer Amir Sarhangi, attempted to solve the situation having built an in-house cloud platform claimed to be fully RCS interoperable between carriers, and offering a fast deployment of the service to the carriers. [44] [45] Some operators like Orange and Deutsche Telekom had previously signed up to the Jibe cloud platform. [46]

Universal profile

Google purchased Jibe Mobile in September 2015, [47] and Amir Sarhangi led the RCS project at Google. Subsequently they worked together with the GSMA which led to the creation of the Universal Profile standard. [43] The GSMA published the Universal Profile in November 2016. [48] The Universal Profile is a single GSMA specification, and carriers that deploy the Universal Profile guarantee interconnection with other carriers, while designed to help carriers launch RCS quickly and scale easily. [49] [50]

The new standard, helped by promotion from Google, finally led to RCS taking off: in early 2017, there were 47 mobile network operators, 11 manufacturers, and 2 OS providers (Google and Microsoft) that had announced their support of the Universal Profile. [51] [41] To accelerate adoption, Google transferred the team that was working on Google Allo to work on a wider RCS implementation, [24] [25] [52] then in 2019 it launched the Guest programme to provide an OTT (over-the-top) RCS solution using Jibe to all Google Android users, without requiring carrier support; [53] it rolled out globally by 2020. [54]

Adoption

In October 2019, the four major U.S. carriers announced an agreement to form the Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI) to jointly implement RCS using a newly developed app. This service was to be compatible with the Universal Profile. [55] However, this carrier-made app never came to fruition. By 2021, both T-Mobile and AT&T signed deals with Google to adopt Google's Messages app. [56] [57] [58] In 2023, T-Mobile and AT&T agreed to use Google Jibe to implement RCS services, and in 2024 Verizon agreed to use Google Jibe. [59] [60] [61]

The three Chinese carriers together announced in April 2020 that they will roll out RCS, branded as 5G Messaging. [62] Both China Telecom and China Unicom had rolled out the services within two years time. However, China Mobile, the country's and also world's largest mobile carrier, delayed the roll-out until it began in December 2023. [63] In 2020, Germany's three carriers had all rolled out RCS services, interconnected and provided by Mavenir; [64] Mavenir's RCS network also started powering carrier Rakuten Mobile in Japan, however this network is not linked to the RCS network used by Japan's three largest carriers, who use their own network named +Message that is currently not based on the Universal Profile specifications and not connected to the global RCS network. [65]

In 2023, the Chinese state ruled that all new 5G handsets sold in China from 2024 must support RCS. [66] Media reports stated that this decision led to Apple to announce RCS support on its iPhone, [67] [68] despite Apple CEO Tim Cook having earlier stated that the company had no plans to support RCS on its devices or any interoperability with iMessage. [69]

Comparison with SMS

SMS (Short Messaging Service) was deployed on cellular networks in the 1990s alongside the earliest 2G digital GSM networks. It uses traditional circuit switching technology, as opposed to the data-based packet oriented standards that were introduced with newer technologies like GPRS and which are now standard. [70] SMS has numerous limitations compared to more modern messaging standards (as in instant messenger clients), such as a 160 character limit, lack of read receipts, and media sharing (images may be shared but these would be sent as an MMS, with an increased charge). RCS aims to be a modern successor with newer features while still remaining an open standard for cell networks like SMS [70] and hence would also not be a closed "walled garden" like commercial messaging networks (also known as OTT (over-the-top) services) such as Messenger and WhatsApp. [71]

Additionally, RCS is IP-based, instead of the Signalling System No. 7 (SS7) standard that SMS uses. Unlike SMS, RCS may require an Internet connection depending on the RCS servers; [72] this is further explained in the Technical details section below.

RCS Business Messaging

An example of an RCS Business chat: the chatbot sender has a verified identity, messages include images, and the receiver may choose from purpose-made responses RCS Business Message sample.png
An example of an RCS Business chat: the chatbot sender has a verified identity, messages include images, and the receiver may choose from purpose-made responses

RCS Business Messaging (RBM) is the business-to-consumer (B2C) (A2P in telecoms terminology) version of RCS. [73] RBM includes unique features, including predefined quick-reply suggestions, rich cards, carousels, and branding, [74] designed to improve customer engagement and interactive features that facilitate new use cases. [75] [76] These are available as standard on preloaded RCS-enabled text messaging apps.

This is supposed to be an answer to third-party messengers (or OTTs) absorbing mobile operators' messaging traffic and associated revenues. While RCS is designed to win back Person-to-Person (P2P) traffic, RBM is intended to retain and grow this A2P traffic. [77] [78] These additional features are only available with the use of a messaging-as-a-platform (MaaP) server integrated with the operator's network. SMS currently suffers from grey routes, where A2P messages are sent over P2P connections, which are cheaper or often free. [79]

Technical details

RCS Universal Profile is based on 3GPP's IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architectural framework and uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to establish sessions and exchange messages and other content. [41]

RCS may require an Internet connection depending on the RCS servers: in an IMS 'single registration' setup, the SIP messaging traffic can be forwarded to be sent directly to the carrier's network, instead of going over the top across the Internet in a 'dual registration' scenario. [72] In cases where RCS is able to operate over cellular networks without data, it supports messaging as well as file transfer, enriched calling, and more. [80]

Features

A thread of group conversation in the Google Messages application on Android Google Messages RCS share.jpg
A thread of group conversation in the Google Messages application on Android

RCS Universal Profile aims to build on SMS with additional interactive features that have become increasingly relevant in world of instant messaging. This includes typing indicators, read receipts, file sharing, high-resolution photo and video sharing, improved group chat functionality, audio messaging, and providing phonebook polling for service discovery. [80] The service directly links to the user's phone number and does not require any account registrations, nor does it require downloading and setting up of third-party chat apps from an app store. [81]

Encryption support

End-to-end (E2E) encryption is not currently a feature of RCS specified by GSMA, instead deferring to the individual clients to establish E2E encryption. [82] [83] [84] [85] However in September 2024, the GSMA announced it was working on bringing interoperable E2E encryption to the Universal Profile RCS standard. [86] RCS uses Transport Layer Security encryption when E2E encryption is not available. Google claims it will only retain message data in transit until it is delivered to the recipient over Google infrastructure. [87] [88] Google Jibe provides RCS infrastructure for various global carriers, as well as Google Messages directly if the carrier does not offer RCS.

In November 2020, Google announced that it would begin to roll out E2E encryption for one-on-one conversations on their Google Messages messaging client - using RCS but not part of the GSMA's RCS specifications - beginning with the beta version of the app. [89] Google added E2E encryption to their Messages app using the Signal Protocol as the default option for one-on-one RCS conversations starting in June 2021. [90] [91] [82] [92] In December 2022, E2E encryption was added to group chats in the Google Messages app for beta users and was made available to all users in August 2023. Additionally, Google enabled RCS in Messages by default to encourage E2E encryption adoption. [84] [85] [93]

In November 2020, Google stated it would work with any company on RCS E2E encryption compatibility. [82] In July 2023, Google announced it was developing support for the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) E2E encryption standard in Google Messages to encourage interoperability of messaging platforms. [94] In November 2023, Apple stated it will not support Google's E2E encryption extension over RCS, but would work with GSMA to create an RCS E2E encryption standard. [95] In September 2024, the GSMA announced it was working on bringing E2E encryption to the standard. [86] In December 2024, a GSMA spokesperson said the market would be updated with E2E encryption "in the coming months". [96]

Interconnection and hubs

Mobile network carriers/operators typically have two ways to deploy RCS services: either basing it on their own IMS infrastructure, or use a third-party hosted service. [46] Like SMS, RCS requires national and international interconnects to enable roaming. As with SMS, this will be accomplished with hubbing - where third-party providers complete agreements with individual operators to interwork their systems. Each subsequent operator that connects to a hub is therefore connected automatically to all other connected operators. This eliminates the need to each operator to connect to all the others to which they may need to send messages. [97] RCS hubs are provided by stakeholders with a vested interest in increasing RCS use. These include traditional SMS hub providers (e.g. Sinch), and software and hardware vendors (e.g. Mavenir, ZTE, and most notably Google's Jibe Cloud platform). [98]

Reception

In 2018, Amnesty International researcher Joe Westby criticized RCS for not allowing E2E encryption, because it is treated as a service of carriers and thus subject to lawful interception. [99] [100]

The Verge in 2019 criticized the inconsistent support of RCS in the United States, with carriers not supporting RCS in all markets, not certifying service on all phones, or not yet supporting the Universal Profile. Concerns were shown over Google's decision to run its own RCS service due to the possibility of antitrust scrutiny, but it was acknowledged that Google had to do so in order to bypass the carriers' inconsistent support of RCS, as it wanted to have a service more comparable to Apple's iMessage service available on Android. [88] [101]

Ars Technica in 2019 criticized Google's move to launch a direct-to-consumer RCS service, considering it a contradiction of RCS being native to the carrier to provide features reminiscent of messaging apps, counting it as being among various past and unsuccessful attempts by Google to develop an in-house messaging service (including Google Talk, Google+ Messenger, Hangouts, and Allo), and noting limitations: such as its dependencies on phone numbers as the identity (whereas email-based accounts are telco-agnostic), not being capable of being readily synchronized between multiple devices, and the aforementioned lack of E2E encryption. [102]

Specifications

RCS Universal Profile

The GSMA's Universal Profile is a globally agreed-upon standard for implementing RCS. The profile allows subscribers of different carriers and nations to communicate with each other. [103] Universal Profile became the dominant RCS specification since its introduction. Google Jibe worked with the GSMA to create the Universal Profile standard. [43]

Version 1.0 (November 2016) [104]
References RCS Advanced Communications Services and Client Specification (RACSCS) Release 6.0 Version 7.0. Includes capability discovery which is interoperable between regions, chat, group chat, file transfer, audio messaging, video share, multi-device, enriched calling, location share and live sketching. [105]
Version 2.0 (July 2017) [106]
RACSCS Release 7.0 Version 8.0. Includes Messaging as a Platform (MaaP) with chatbots, also known as RCS Business Messages, APIs, plug-in integration and improved authentication and app security. Adds group chat icons, group chat change of subject, and file transfer enhancements. [105] Support for passing group chat administrator to another participant, and allowing various features to fall back to SMS. [107]
Version 2.1 (December 2017) [104]
References the same RACSCS Release 7.0 Version 8.0 as Universal Profile Version 2.0.
Version 2.2 (May 2018) [104]
RACSCS Release 8.0 Version 9.0. Added additional chatbot features and vCard 4.0 format support. [108]
Version 2.3 (December 2018) [104]
RACSCS Release 9.0 Version 10.0. Support for large pager standalone messages. [109]
Version 2.4 (October 2019) [104]
RACSCS Version 11.0. Removes plug-in integration and includes integrated seamless web-view. Added additional chatbot features. [110] This version is used in Messages (Apple) with iOS 18. [111]
Version 2.5 (October 2020) [104]
RACSCS Version 12.0. Additional messaging verification and chatbot features. [112]
Version 2.6 (December 2022) [104]
RACSCS Version 13.0. Optional procedures for file transfer authentication and additional chatbot verification. [113]
Version 2.7 (June 2024) [104]
RACSCS Version 14.0. Adds support for sending message replies, custom emoji reactions, editing and deleting messages. Improves spam handling and adds chatbot features. [114] Google Messages had implemented some of the features in this version. [115] [116]

Historical specifications

Before Universal Profile RCS became the dominant RCS specification, there was a variety of proprietary RCS specifications that did not allow RCS messaging between carriers. [117] RCS combined different services defined by 3GPP and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) with an enhanced phonebook. Another phone's capabilities and presence information could be discovered and displayed by a mobile phone. RCS reuses 3GPP specified IMS core system as the underlying service platform to take care of issues such as authentication, authorization, registration, charging and routing.

Release 1 Version 1.0 (15 December 2008)

Offered the first definitions for the enrichment of voice and chat with content sharing, driven from an RCS enhanced address book (EAB).

Release 2 Version 1.0 (31 August 2009)

Added broadband access to RCS features: enhancing the messaging and enabling sharing of files.

Release 3 Version 1.0 (25 February 2010)

Focused on the broadband device as a primary device.

Release 4 Version 1.0 (14 February 2011)

Included support for LTE.

Release 5 Version 1.0 (19 April 2012)

RCS 5.0 was completely backwards-compatible with RCS-e V1.2 specifications and also includes features from RCS 4 and new features such as IP video call, IP voice call and Geo-location exchange. RCS5.0 supported both OMA CPM and OMA SIMPLE IM. RCS 5.0 included the following features.
  • Standalone Messaging
  • 1-2-1 Chat
  • Group Chat
  • File Transfer
  • Content Sharing
  • Social Presence Information
  • IP Voice call (IR.92 and IR.58)
  • IP Video call (IR.94)
  • Geolocation Exchange
  • Capability Exchange based on Presence or SIP OPTIONS

Release 5.1

5.1 was completely backwards compatible with the RCS-e V1.2 and RCS 5.0 specifications. It introduced additional new features such as Group Chat Store & Forward, File Transfer in Group Chat, File Transfer Store & Forward, and Best Effort Voice Call, as well as lessons-learnt and bug fixes from the V1.2 interoperability testing efforts. RCS 5.1 supported both OMA CPM and OMA SIMPLE IM.
  • Version 1.0 (13 August 2012)
  • Version 2.0 (3 May 2013)
  • Version 3.0 (9 September 2013)
  • Version 4.0 (28 November 2013)

Release 5.2 Version 5.0 (7 May 2014)

Improved central message store and introduced service extension tags into the specification. It also introduced a number of incremental improvements and bug fixes to RCS 5.1 V4.0 that improved the user experience and resolve issues that were noticed in deployed RCS networks.

Release 5.3 Version 6.0 (28 February 2015)

Release 6.0 Version 7.0 (21 March 2016) [118]

First version to be incorporated into Universal Profile, as were the subsequent versions.

RCS-e (enhanced)

An attempt by Europe's five biggest mobile operators to galvanize RCS with a simplified version of RCS. [4]

Joyn

Joyn was a service brand of RCS-e. [4] The GSMA defined a series of specific implementations of the RCS specifications. The RCS specifications often defined a number of options for implementing individual communications features, resulting in challenges in delivering interoperable services between carriers. The RCS specifications aimed to define a more specific implementation that promotes standardization and simplify interconnection between carriers.

Commercial deployments

Apple maintains a global list of carriers that support Universal Profile RCS messaging in Messages (Apple). [123] Google Messages supports RCS with these carriers, and additionally supports RCS for all users globally, provided directly by Google Jibe if the carrier does not offer RCS. [8] The GSMA states that Universal Profile support is optional in 4G, but mandatory in 5G networks and devices. [124] In Japan, since 2018, the +Message carrier app uses the Universal Profile RCS protocol and has millions of Android and iPhone users, but it does not currently connect to the global Universal Profile network. [31]

RCS launches: [125]
OperatorCountryLaunch dateNote
Movistar Flag of Spain.svg  Spain June 2012 [126] Branded as joyn.
MetroPCS Flag of the United States.svg  United States November 2012 [126] Branded as joyn.
US Mobile Flag of the United States.svg  United States October 2024Announced by CEO, Ahmed Khattak, on the US Mobile Subreddit [127]
KT Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea December 2012 [126] [128] Branded as joyn. Discontinued in 2016.
LG U+ Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea December 2012 [126] [128] Branded as joyn. Discontinued in 2016.
SK Telecom Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea December 2012 [126] [128] Branded as joyn.
Deutsche Telekom Flag of Germany.svg  Germany February 2013 [126] Branded as Message+ [129]
Telcel Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico February 2013 [126] Branded as joyn.
Claro Multiple marketsMay 2013 [126] Branded as joyn.
Sprint Flag of the United States.svg  United States October 2013Launched as a separate application
Telekom Flag of Romania.svg  Romania June 2014 [130] [131] Branded as joyn.
Slovak Telekom Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia June 2014 [130] [131] Branded as joyn.
O2 Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2015 [132] Branded as Message+Call.
SFR Flag of France.svg  France May 2015 [133] [134] Initially branded as joyn, now RCS. [135]
T-Mobile US Flag of the United States.svg  United States July 2015 [136] Branded as Advanced Messaging. In September 2023, T-Mobile US converted to Google Jibe for RCS services. [59]
AT&T Flag of the United States.svg  United States November 2015Branded as Advanced Messaging and Video Call. [137] [138] In June 2023, AT&T converted to Google Jibe for RCS services. [60] AT&T announced the RCS capable AT&T Messages Android apps would be discontinued in 2024, recommending use of Google Messages instead. [139]
MTS Flag of Russia.svg  Russia December 2015 [140] Branded as MTS Connect.
Airtel Flag of India.svg  India February 2016
Jio Flag of India.svg  India September 2016 [141] Branded as Jio4GVoice.
Rogers Wireless Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada December 2016Universal Profile.
Fido Solutions Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada December 2016Universal Profile.
Telenor Multiple marketsFebruary 2017Universal Profile. [142]
Celcom Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia May 2017Universal Profile.
Vodafone Multiple markets2012-2017 [143] Universal Profile. [144]

[126] [145] [146] [147] [148] First Branded as joyn. Since November 2013 Message+.

Telstra Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia October 2017Branded as Telstra Messaging. [149] Universal Profile v2. [150]
Telia Company Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden December 2017Branded as SMS+. [151]
Telia Company Flag of Norway.svg  Norway February 2018Branded as SMS+. [151]
Globe Telecom Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines February 2018Universal Profile
NTT Docomo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan May 2018Branded as +Message. [152]
KDDI Flag of Japan.svg  Japan May 2018Branded as +Message. [152]
SoftBank Corp. Flag of Japan.svg  Japan May 2018Branded as +Message. [152]
UScellular Flag of the United States.svg  United States October 2018Universal Profile. [153]
Verizon Flag of the United States.svg  United States December 2018Branded as Chat. In February 2024, Verizon converted to using Google Jibe for RCS services. [154] Verizon discontinued the RCS capable Verizon Messages (Message+) Android app in December 2024, recommending use of Google Messages instead. [155]
Rakuten Mobile Flag of Japan.svg  Japan April 2020As part of Link application. [156]
Freedom Mobile Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada October 2018Universal Profile.
Google Fi Wireless Flag of the United States.svg  United States January 2019Universal Profile.
Google (Note: Not a carrier)🌐 GlobalNovember 2019In Google's Messages app, if a carrier does not provide Universal Profile RCS, Google provides RCS. [8]
Telekom Albania Flag of Albania.svg  Albania Universal Profile.
Bell Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Universal Profile.
China Mobile Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Universal Profile.
Orange Multiple markets2012-2019 [157] Branded as Chat Messages in Romania, [158] joyn elsewhere. [126] [130] [131]

[159] Since July 2018 branded as Chat - Universal profile in Slovakia.

[160] Service in France was interrupted as of 14 November 2017.

Boost Mobile Flag of the United States.svg  United States December 2024 [161] Universal Profile.
COSMOTE Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Branded as Message+ [162]
Telekom Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Universal Profile.
Vodacom Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Universal Profile.
Telkom Mobile Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Universal Profile. [163]
Illinois Valley CellularFlag of the United States.svg  United States Universal Profile.
Tiercel WirelessFlag of the United States.svg  United States Universal Profile.
TracFone Wireless Flag of the United States.svg  United States Universal Profile.
Swisscom Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland April 2020Branded as Message+ [164] Discontinued in 2023.
Proximus Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium August 2020 [165]
MTS Flag of Russia.svg  Russia October 2020Only for Samsung smartphones and only for Moscow customers, [166] MTS Connect still works for all MTS customers
Base Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium February 2021 [157]

See also

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Upptalk was a proprietary voice-over-IP service and software application that provided mobile phone numbers in the cloud and allows users to call or text any phone for free whether or not the device receiving the calls and texts has the Yuilop application. The service was discontinued in 2017 and even its domain was abandoned. Upptalk, formerly known as Yuilop, is officially transitioning to an Edtech company.

TextSecure was an encrypted messaging application for Android that was developed from 2010 to 2015. It was a predecessor to Signal and the first application to use the Signal Protocol, which has since been implemented into WhatsApp and other applications. TextSecure used end-to-end encryption to secure the transmission of text messages, group messages, attachments and media messages to other TextSecure users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Signal (software)</span> Privacy-focused encrypted messaging app

Signal is an open-source, encrypted messaging service for instant messaging, voice calls, and video calls. The instant messaging function includes sending text, voice notes, images, videos, and other files. Communication may be one-to-one between users or may involve group messaging.

eSIM Programmable SIM card embedded into a device

An eSIM is a form of SIM card that is embedded directly into a device as software installed onto a eUICC chip. First released in March 2016, eSIM is a global specification by the GSMA that enables remote SIM provisioning; end-users can change mobile network operators without the need to physically swap a SIM from the device. eSIM technology has been referred to as a disruptive innovation for the mobile telephony industry. Most flagship devices manufactured since 2018 that are not SIM locked support eSIM technology; as of October 2023, there were 134 models of mobile phones that supported eSIMs. In addition to mobile phones, tablet computers, and smartwatches, eSIM technology is used for Internet of things applications such as connected cars, artificial intelligence translators, MiFi devices, smart earphones, smart metering, GPS tracking units, database transaction units, bicycle-sharing systems, advertising players, and closed-circuit television cameras. A report stated that by 2025, 98% of mobile network operators were expected to offer eSIMs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Allo</span> Instant messaging app by Google

Google Allo was an instant messaging mobile app by Google for the Android and iOS mobile operating systems, with a web client available in some web browsers. It closed on March 12, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Signal Protocol</span> Non-federated cryptographic protocol

The Signal Protocol is a non-federated cryptographic protocol that provides end-to-end encryption for voice and instant messaging conversations. The protocol was developed by Open Whisper Systems in 2013 and was introduced in the open-source TextSecure app, which later became Signal. Several closed-source applications have implemented the protocol, such as WhatsApp, which is said to encrypt the conversations of "more than a billion people worldwide" or Google who provides end-to-end encryption by default to all RCS-based conversations between users of their Google Messages app for one-to-one conversations. Facebook Messenger also say they offer the protocol for optional Secret Conversations, as does Skype for its Private Conversations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Element (software)</span> Decentralized encrypted chat and collaboration software powered by the Matrix protocol

Element is a free and open-source software instant messaging client implementing the Matrix protocol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Messages</span> Messaging application developed by Google

Google Messages is a text messaging software application developed by Google for its Android and Wear OS mobile operating systems. It is also available as a web app.

Comparison of user features of messaging platforms refers to a comparison of all the various user features of various electronic instant messaging platforms. This includes a wide variety of resources; it includes standalone apps, platforms within websites, computer software, and various internal functions available on specific devices, such as iMessage for iPhones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conversations (software)</span> Free software instant messaging client for the XMPP protocol

Conversations is a free software, instant messaging client application software for Android. It is largely based on recognized open standards such as the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) and Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Beeper is an instant messenger software that enables using a variety of chat services and protocols all from the same application. Originally developed by Beeper Inc, it was acquired by Automattic in April 2024.

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