RCS API and mobile messaging network provides a gateway to global RCS
OpenMarket has announced it is working with Vodafone and ITV on the first live consumer trials of rich communication services (RCS) business messaging in Europe.
The company has also recently launched one of the first live RCS consumer trials with Contact lens company, 1-800 Contacts, and Sprint as part of Google’s Early Access programme for RCS business messaging. Real life applications of RCS, which are set to transform the way companies interact with their customers, will be showcased here in Barcelona, while RCS A2P Business Messaging has been officially launched by the GSMA here at MWC 2018.
RCS is the next generation of text messaging, according to OpenMarket. UK broadcaster ITV is trialling RCS with Vodafone’s mature RCS subscriber base to enhance the text voting and competition entry experience for viewers of its popular TV programmes. Meanwhile, 1-800 Contacts is trialling RCS to allow its customers to track their order deliveries.
Greg Hoy, director of product management for RCS messaging, OpenMarket, said: “RCS is text messaging for the smartphone age. It empowers brands to improve customer communications with richer, smarter, more app-like experiences, all from the SMS inbox. RCS delivers valuable data from each customer interaction so that brands can optimize their business outcomes and future messaging strategies.”
Stefano Parisse, group director for product and services, Vodafone Group said: “When you consider the global opportunity for RCS, we haven’t even scratched the surface. Mobile business messaging is getting richer and more conversational, increasing customer engagement and adding value to mobile as a channel for brands. As one of the leading operators for RCS, Vodafone can offer a more engaging interaction with mobile customers who have already been benefiting from the richer messaging experience for some time. Our partnership with OpenMarket enables a gateway to deliver next generation text messaging services to consumers all over the world.”
Amir Sarhangi, head of RCS at Google said: “One of the main benefits of RCS business messaging is that people who’ve already opted-in to SMS messages from a business don’t have to do anything at all. People will see richer, more interactive messages from businesses they care about right from their SMS inbox. This means that brands can provide a host of new features that make it easy to interact and get things done. In the coming months we’ll bring RCS business messaging to more companies globally.”
OpenMarket enables enterprises and other messaging vendors to deliver RCS business messages to subscribers of any mobile network operator without building their own infrastructure. It does this via a proprietary API and its global mobile messaging network. In addition, OpenMarket gives brands access to five billion mobile users in over 200 countries, sending over two billion mobile messaging interactions per month.
