An Introduction to RCS
What is RCS?
RCS is a new and innovative service package that fits the lifestyle communication needs of the ‘always-on’ users and is the starting point for their social interaction. Its feature-rich portfolio of services unleashes the communities hidden in the user’s phonebook and will make multimedia social networking simpler.
The GSMA RCS initiative is a cross-industry group that has defined a common vision on delivering convergent, rich communication services. The RCS service specifications have been launched with an exciting range of features:
- Enhanced Address Book – provides presence and capability indications, enables users to initiate communications including voice calls, video calls, file transfers or messaging, and allows users to integrate multimedia elements, such as photos of contacts.
- Rich Call – enables users to exchange different types of content, such as video or photos, during a call.
- Rich Messaging – expands on traditional instant messaging to simplify and unify multiple messaging mediums and provide a richer user experience.
- Broadband access client and support for a multi-device environment so user access to services and applications will be possible from both mobile and fixed terminals (PCs)
What will RCS do?
For end-users, RCS means a new range of exciting, feature rich services from operators that will make the mobile even more central to their private and business lives – sharing a special image with friends or sharing data with colleagues around the world. For the industry players involved in the initiative, it will assist the rapid adoption of the mobile applications and services to deliver the rich communications experience to their customers.
Supporters of the RCS Programme
The project was integrated into the GSM Association's work programme in August 2008 to develop and provide a stable and proven framework for the definition of business models, interworking guidelines and technical reference implementation. It is currently supported by over 80 leading companies including 28 of the world’s top operators representing approximately 1.8 billion global connections. In addition, RCS has the support of more than 50 leading vendors of handsets, infrastructure and applications. Trials of RCS are planned to start in 2009.
Membership data as at September 2009
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Acision |
IBM |
Softbank |
