RCS Business Messaging vs other messaging channels

More than 30 years ago, the first text message was sent, changing how we communicate.

SMS is a valuable communication channel for its reach and simplicity. It doesn’t require an Internet connection, all you need is a cell signal.

However, it is limited to plain text of 160 characters, cannot send images, videos, GIFs, or other multimedia content, and is primarily designed for individual messaging.

An upgrade to SMS was MMS, which can send images, videos, and audio.

The evolution of both SMS and MMS is RCS Business Messaging, which offers more dynamic and interactive experiences with its rich features.

Refer to our RCS vs SMS blog to get a more in-depth comparison of the two.

RCS Business Messaging and OTT apps have similar features, but the main difference is that OTT apps have to be installed externally. Other than that, there are a few other differences between the two.

To use OTT apps, users need to search and install the specific app on their phones. On the other hand, RCS is natively available to Android users and will be available on iOS devices in September 2024.

You must provide clear opt-in and opt-out options for your RCS communications. Users must be able to easily unsubscribe, and you must honor their requests to stop receiving messages unless they explicitly opt back in.

Similarly, if an OTT app wants to send marketing emails, push notifications, or in-app messages, users must explicitly opt-in. This consent should be clear and separate from other permissions or terms of service.

RCS is used in the native messaging app, and the user interface is standardized across devices and carrier networks. On the other hand, each OTT app has a different user interface.

RCS and Apple Messages for Business provide rich, conversational experiences from the comfort of your customers’ mobile screens.

The difference lies in different entry points and how communication is initiated on these platforms.