From Rich Text to Video: RCS Universal Profile 4.0 has arrived

Tom Van Pelt, Technical Director, GSMA

Delivering a consistent native messaging experience regardless of device or ecosystem is one of the primary objectives of GSMA's Rich Communication Services (RCS) Universal Profile. We took a big step closer to that goal with the news that end-to-end encryption is being tested between Android and iOS devices. This was made possible by the specification set out by RCS Universal Profile 3.0 and RCS Universal Profile 3.1 and it is great to see progress being made on this front.

That makes me even more excited to announce the finalisation of RCS Universal Profile 4.0, which represents the most comprehensive upgrade yet. RCS Universal Profile 4.0 strengthens the RCS ecosystem by adding several new features for users, putting video and more expressive text at the heart of their conversations with friends or family, and in their interactions with businesses.

Here's a quick summary of the most important new capabilities:

1. Native support for video calls within the messaging app

Among the headline features of this new Universal Profile version is the introduction of Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC). MIVC allows users to escalate any RCS 1-to-1 or group messaging session directly into a video call. This enhancement would provide users with a smooth, intuitive upgrade path from text to real-time interaction that is fully integrated within the messaging conversation thread. MIVC will ensure the continuity of the conversation by allowing group members to join an ongoing video call that they could not accept when it started, as well as synchronise MIVC logs within the chat timeline. When implemented, MIVC paves the way for the first natively supported video call experience that's interoperable across a wide range of devices and networks.

1. Rich text and higher-quality media for more expressive RCS messaging

Universal Profile 4.0 also introduces new features within the messaging experience. Rich text messaging will enable users to apply expressive styling to their RCS messages, such as bold, italics and strikethrough. Universal Profile 4.0 ensures backward compatibility through well-defined fallbacks. These include prompting users to review plain-text versions when a rich text message must fall back to SMS. Users will also be able to exchange higher quality audio, video and images because their devices can identify the media formats supported by their conversation partners. That means that they can select the most optimal encoding for the content to be transferred.

1. Video streaming and link optimisation in Rich Cards for businesses

Business messaging senders will also benefit from user experience enhancements in Universal Profile 4.0. Rich Cards will be able to embed streaming video rather than requiring a download of the full content. Businesses will also have more control over how links are opened. This will ensure users remain within the messaging app for quick actions like viewing a restaurant menu, while for more complex actions, such as payments, they can be directed to a dedicated application. Behind the scenes, all of that is handled in ways optimised to guarantee the security and privacy of the user. In addition, the handling of deep links to businesses and the verification of those parties has been made more efficient and even more robust.

All these enhancements confirm the momentum behind evolving RCS and reinforce our commitment to improving the user experience across every communication channel it enables. I encourage stakeholders to review the new features of Universal Profile 4.0, provide their valuable feedback, and actively collaborate with us in shaping RCS's future direction. Together, we can continue on this exciting path to ensure that RCS evolves to meet the future needs of its users.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or you would like to know more about RCS messaging.