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51-634: The WAC organisation came to an end with the GSMA announcing on July 17, 2012, that it reached an agreement to integrate WAC's major programs and initiatives into the GSMA. Additionally, Apigee, acquired the technology assets of WAC. WAC was preceded by the OMTP and it completed its acquisition of the Joint Innovation Lab on 1 October 2010, accelerating the commercial launch of WAC-enabled application stores and put it in

102-581: A Standards Development Organisation (SDO) - but used W3C Standard technologies for its platform and in particular used the W3C Widget packaging format and specification for web apps. It also furthered the use of JavaScript device APIs and these originated from the OMTP BONDI project. BONDI was developed by the now defunct Open Mobile Terminals Platform OMTP . JIL was a joint venture by China Mobile , Softbank , Verizon Wireless , Vodafone focused promoting

153-459: 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 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 . Additionally, RCS

204-472: A database. It offers a device look up and identification service based on this database that allows authorised third-party organisations to identify the manufacturer and model of a mobile device using the IMEI. GSMA Events Rich Communication Services Rich Communication Services ( RCS ) is a communication protocol standard for instant messaging , primarily for mobile phones , developed and defined by

255-452: A global list of carriers that support Universal Profile RCS messaging in Messages (Apple) . 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. The GSMA states that Universal Profile support is optional in 4G, but mandatory in 5G networks and devices. In Japan, since 2018,

306-737: A memorandum of understanding signed in 1987 by 13 operators in 12 countries that committed to deploying GSM for mobile services. Full membership of the GSMA is open to licensed mobile operators using a GSM family technology. Approximately 750 such operators around the world are full GSMA members. Associate membership of the GSMA is open to non-operator companies active in the mobile ecosystem. These include handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities. There are approximately 400 GSMA member companies in this category. The GSMA board has 25 representatives from

357-420: A position to be fully operational and commercially running before the end of 2010. The Wholesale Application Community application development platform is based on standard technologies such as HTML , JavaScript , and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Specifically this platform builds on the work of the former Open Mobile Terminal Platform Ltd.'s BONDI project, the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) device APIs and

408-559: A simplified version of RCS. Joyn Joyn was a service brand of RCS-e. 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. Apple maintains

459-408: A third-party hosted service. 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

510-756: 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. (further explained in the Technical details section below) RCS Business Messaging (RBM) is the business-to-consumer (B2C) ( A2P in telecoms terminology) version of RCS. RBM includes unique features, including predefined quick-reply suggestions, rich cards, carousels, and branding, designed to improve customer engagement and interactive features that facilitate new use cases. These are available as standard on preloaded RCS-enabled text messaging apps. This

561-520: Is a non-profit industry organisation that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide. More than 750 mobile operators are full GSMA members and a further 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem are associate members. The GSMA was formed in 1995 as the 'GSM MoU Association' as a body to support and promote mobile operators using the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) standard for cellular networks. It traces its history back to

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612-455: Is also accessible through desktops via the web client of Google Messages or via Microsoft Phone Link . RCS is also marketed as Advanced Messaging and 5G Messaging (in China), and was previously variously marketed as chat features , enhanced chat , joyn , SMSoIP , and SMS+ . Samsung Electronics was one of the first major device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to support

663-452: 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. 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

714-654: Is currently not based on the Universal Profile specifications and not connected to the global RCS network. In 2023, the Chinese state ruled that all new 5G handsets sold in China from 2024 must support RCS. Media reports stated that this decision led to Apple to announce RCS support on its iPhone , 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 . SMS (Short Messaging Service)

765-442: Is not about competing with Apple and similar companies. Its focus is on making apps available to a much greater audience. To do this requires adherence to a core set of Web technologies and have the ability to distribute to a base larger than that served by a single device or OS." GSMA The GSM Association (commonly referred to as 'the GSMA' or Global System for Mobile Communications , originally Groupe Spécial Mobile )

816-546: 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. 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. RCS Universal Profile

867-616: Is the largest annual exhibition and conference dedicated to the mobile industry, attracting more than 109,000 visitors in 2019. The event was first held in 1987. Since 2006, the event has been hosted in Barcelona and is currently located at the Fira Gran Via venue. In 2019 the event was recognised, for the fourth time, as the Guinness World Record holder for the world's largest carbon-neutral tradeshow. In addition to MWC Barcelona,

918-501: Is to ensure that mobile telecoms "policy and regulatory frameworks are fair, flexible and future-proof"; that radio spectrum is made available for mobile services "in a timely and fair manner"; and to promote the use of mobile services in emerging markets. As part of its Industry Purpose programme, the GSMA is supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals . The GSMA's Mobile World Congress Barcelona (MWC Barcelona)

969-480: Is treated as a service of carriers and thus subject to lawful interception . 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

1020-512: 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. iOS 18 launched with support for RCS in September 2024. The Rich Communication Suite industry initiative was formed by a group of industry promoters in 2007. In February 2008 the GSM Association (GSMA) officially became

1071-410: The 'Internet of Things'. It also runs industry working groups covering areas such as roaming and interconnection , fraud and security, and intellectual property, as well as various other specialist committees and groups. The GSMA represents the mobile industry to governments and institutions where it advocates policy and regulatory positions on behalf of its members. Its stated goals in this area

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1122-752: 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. 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. 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. The three Chinese carriers together announced in April 2020 that they will roll out RCS, branded as 5G Messaging . Both China Telecom and China Unicom had rolled out

1173-488: 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

1224-449: The GSM Association's OneAPI program. By utilizing web-based technologies, rather than relying on developers to write native applications for specific devices, the WAC alliance believes it can spur the development of more applications across a much wider range of devices. The group also aims to make certain telecoms APIs available to developers, such as those for operator billing. WAC was not

1275-540: The GSMA organises MWC Kigali, MWC Shanghai, MWC Las Vegas, 4YFN and the 'Mobile 360' series of regional events. The GSMA is the global administrator of Type Allocation Code (TAC), which is used to create the International Mobile Equipment Identity number that can uniquely identify wireless devices. It allocates official IMEI number ranges to all manufacturers of 3GPP compliant devices and records these ranges and device model information in

1326-635: The GSMA which led to the creation of the Universal Profile standard. The GSMA published the Universal Profile in November 2016. 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. 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

1377-783: The GSMA's RCS specifications - beginning with the beta version of the app. 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. 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. In July 2023, Google announced it

1428-600: 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. Before 2023 the Google Messages app branded RCS communication as Chat , before it was renamed to RCS to be clearer. In March 2024, it was reported that Google was "silently" blocking RCS on rooted Androids. Other flavors of Android such as Huawei 's HarmonyOS in China also support RCS through native messaging clients ( EMUI version 8.1+). In June 2024, Apple announced that support for RCS would be added to

1479-488: The RCS capability as chat features , and displays Enter chat message in the message box. Starting in 2024, Samsung Messages is no longer coming preloaded on Galaxy phones sold in the United States market in favor of Google Messages. Mobile phones running Android with Google Play Services support RCS with its native messaging app, Google Messages , beginning with Android Lollipop . In June 2019, Google announced that it would begin to deploy RCS on an opt-in basis via

1530-516: 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. 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. The Samsung Messages client brands

1581-622: The RCS project released a new specification – RCS-e (e = "enhanced"), which included various iterations of the original RCS specifications. At Mobile World Congress 2012, RCS-e was launched under the consumer brand name " joyn " (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 . That year,

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1632-637: The Universal Profile RCS standard. 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. 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

1683-481: The Universal Profile. To accelerate adoption, Google transferred the team that was working on Google Allo to work on a wider RCS implementation, 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; it rolled out globally by 2020. In October 2019, the four major U.S. carriers announced an agreement to form

1734-419: The definition, testing, and integration of the services in the application suite. 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. During this time, closed internet-based instant messaging services (known in the industry as "OTT" (over-the-top) providers) were rising in popularity. To accelerate development,

1785-400: The dominant RCS specification, there was a variety of proprietary RCS specifications that did not allow RCS messaging between carriers. 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

1836-522: The download of third-party apps. As of 2020, RCS has rolled out across 90 cell operators in 60 countries globally, and has over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2023. 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 . Apple added support for RCS in Messages with iOS 18 in September 2024; RCS

1887-581: The first RCS-e/Joyn services were rolled out by networks in Spain, Germany and the US. However, the RCS standard struggled with fragmentation and incompatibility, with one industry analyst stating in 2015 that the project was a "zombie [..] infected with bureaucracy, complexity, and irrelevance". A Mountain View -based startup called Jibe Mobile, headed and cofounded by Iranian-American engineer Amir Sarhangi, attempted to solve

1938-491: 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. 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. Universal Profile became the dominant RCS specification since its introduction. Before Universal Profile RCS became

1989-467: The need to each operator to connect to all the others to which they may need to send messages. 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). In 2018, Amnesty International researcher Joe Westby criticized RCS for not allowing E2E encryption , because it

2040-454: 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, later known as Rich Communication Services. 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. The steering committee specified

2091-600: 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. In 2020, Germany's three carriers had all rolled out RCS services, interconnected and provided by Mavenir ; 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

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2142-466: 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. Some operators like Orange and Deutsche Telekom had previously signed up to the Jibe cloud platform. Google purchased Jibe Mobile in September 2015, and Amir Sarhangi led the RCS project at Google. Subsequently they worked together with

2193-665: The top across the Internet in a 'dual registration' scenario. 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. 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 . The service directly links to

2244-596: 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) Release 2 Version 1.0 (31 August 2009) Release 3 Version 1.0 (25 February 2010) Release 4 Version 1.0 (14 February 2011) Release 5 Version 1.0 (19 April 2012) Release 5.1 Release 5.2 Version 5.0 (7 May 2014) Release 5.3 Version 6.0 (28 February 2015) Release 6.0 Version 7.0 (21 March 2016) RCS-e (enhanced) An attempt by Europe's five biggest mobile operators to galvanize RCS with

2295-603: The use of web based technologies for mobile application development. JIL compliant handsets include the SGH-i8320 (Samsung Vodafone 360 H1). On the 27 of July 2010, WAC announced that it would "join forces" with JIL and completed the acquisition on 1 October 2010. One potential problem raised was whether a unified platform was possible in a market fragmented by different device manufactures and carriers that provide different functionality and update at different times or not at all. Vidhya Gholkar, WAC's Developer Relations Lead, said "WAC

2346-434: 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 . 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. However in September 2024, the GSMA announced it was working on bringing interoperable E2E encryption to

2397-638: The world's largest operator groups and selected smaller operators, and is elected bi-annually. José María Álvarez-Pallete López, CEO of Telefónica Group, became GSMA Chairman in January 2022., The present Director General of the GSMA, Mats Granryd, took office in January 2016. The GSMA manages industry programmes in collaboration with its members with the aim of achieving scale and interoperability for new mobile technologies. It has three active programmes: 'Future Networks' (promoting standards such as Rich Communication Services and Voice over LTE ); 'Identity'; and

2448-679: 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 . 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

2499-413: 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. SMS has numerous limitations compared to more modern messaging standards (as in instant messenger clients), such as

2550-645: Was developed and has been continually rolled out since 2017. RCS has been designed as an industry open standard 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. 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

2601-515: Was developing support for the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) E2E encryption standard in Google Messages to encourage interoperability of messaging platforms. 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. Mobile network carriers/operators typically have two ways to deploy RCS services: either basing it on their own IMS infrastructure, or use

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