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LIVEWire: The Future of Business Messaging - Why RCS | SignalWire
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LIVEWire: 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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The Future of Business Messaging Is Richer Than Ever: Why RCS Matters Now

As the messaging landscape rapidly evolves, Rich Communication Services (RCS) is emerging as a game-changer—especially in the United States. In a recent SignalWire LIVEWire webinar, Product Marketing Manager Chelsea Botki and Director of Operations Steve Star unpacked what RCS really is, why it's gaining traction now, and how businesses can start planning for a future with richer, more interactive messaging.

What Is RCS and Why Should You Care?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the next generation of messaging. Unlike SMS or MMS, RCS supports verified business senders, high-quality images and video, carousels, quick replies, and even read receipts and typing indicators—all from within the native messaging app users already know and use.

While RCS has been around in concept since 2008, adoption was slow until Google embraced it in 2019. Now, with Apple rolling out RCS support in iOS 18 and broader carrier buy-in expected by early 2025, the US market is poised for a major shift.

RBM: Rich Messaging for Businesses

RCS Business Messaging (RBM) takes the benefits of RCS and applies them to brand-to-consumer communication. With RBM, businesses can:

  • Send messages from a verified brand identity (not just a phone number)

  • Share high-quality media, documents, or location info

  • Offer quick replies and CTAs within the message

  • Provide appointment confirmations, account alerts, and even payments—without leaving the chat

Why Now?

With mobile operators like Verizon and T-Mobile rolling out support, and Apple introducing RBM support in iOS 18.1, the momentum is finally real. As Chelsea noted in the webinar, "Businesses that aren’t preparing for RCS risk being left behind."

Plus, customers are already showing strong interest. Nearly 80% of consumers say RCS makes them more likely to engage with a brand. Combine that with click-through rates up to 7x higher than SMS, and the value proposition becomes hard to ignore.

What Can You Do Today?

While full support across devices and networks is still a few months away, businesses can start taking key steps now:

  • Register your RCS agent – SignalWire can guide you through this approval process, which involves Google, aggregators, and mobile operators.

  • Plan your use cases – Whether it’s marketing, customer service, or appointment reminders, now’s the time to rethink your messaging strategy around rich content and better interactions.

  • Join the SignalWire interest list – Stay updated on rollout timelines, beta programs, and tools to help you build and scale RCS experiences.