RCS vs. SMS: Definitions, Differences & Current Trends

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This article expands on the feature comparison between RCS and SMS, with revised information to reflect current advancements.

As businesses seek effective ways to communicate with consumers, the choice between SMS and RCS becomes crucial.

For now, SMS is the backbone of mobile messaging, offering a straightforward way to send concise messages. It’s highly effective across various industries, such as insurance, finance, and service sectors, though it has some limitations. For instance, SMS has a 160-character cap and lacks multimedia capabilities.

In contrast, RCS represents the next generation of messaging, providing features like read receipts, multimedia sharing, and interactive elements, all designed to create a richer user experience. With Apple set to make uae phone number list hCS available for iPhone users in late 2024, its adoption is expected to surge.

Whether you follow the traditional text messaging model or drive way off course… it all matters.

What we will cover in this blog:


SMS vs. RCS message: Exploring SMS in Brand Marketing
First, this is the history of SMS messaging, which was introduced in the late 1990s, and from that moment on, it has revolutionized brand communication with consumers. This occurred due to simplicity and ease of use; subsequently, it became liked among the users due to the conveniences available.

The first ever SMS was sent out in 1992, at the end of the 12th of December, and the message read “Merry Christmas.”

Thus, one may begin with something very ordinary and gradually evolve into the key medium in the market.

Let me explain how SMS works. SMS relies on the cellular network and isn’t supported online or through Wi-Fi. It operates using the GSM protocol.

The Short Message Peer-to-Peer protocol allows carriers to send SMS messages off the grid and hence doesn’t impact mobile data tariffs as these do not leverage the internet. On the other hand, radio-based techniques like RCS and messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger require internet connections. They can send messages that are dependent on the users’ data plans.