Mobile operators Three UK and O2 (Virgin Media) have today announced that they’re partnering with the cloud communications platform, Sinch, to make RCS Business Messaging (RBM) available on iOS (Apple iPhone, iPad etc.) for their customers – previously this was only available to Android based phones and devices.
The announcement, which comes shortly after Three UK introduced support for regular Rich Communications Services (RCS or “Enhanced Chat“) alongside the iOS 18.2 update (here), means that users of RBM will also benefit from real-time, personalised two-way interactions, as well as new interactive features (i.e. videos, carousels, and branded content) and secure communications (i.e. verified sender identities, branded messages, and other built-in security features).
The adoption of RBM on iOS by the two operators also extend to their respective Mobile Virtual Network Operations (MVNOs), with Tesco Mobile and Giffgaff both being named in the announcement.
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Nicklas Molin, Executive VP of EMEA at Sinch, said:
“This is what the future of messaging looks like. Partnering with Three UK and Virgin Media O2 is a big step forward in delivering richer, more engaging interactions between businesses and their customers. Together we are making it easier than ever for brands to connect with people in ways that feel personal, secure, and impactful.”
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RCS can be a pain the backside when you change providers and port your old number. When you activate the sim with the temporary number RCS registers it but when the number port happens it can continue to show the temporary number on outgoing messages, it can an absolute pain to get it to show the ported number.
Why bother?
Everyone uses WhatsApp.
WhatsApp just caused me to get spam calls every day. Since uninstalling 0 spam calls at all!
Businesses use WhatsApp, are they crazy?
always good to have options, especially those not owned by the large American tech companies
(yes, I know many operators outsource their RCS to Google, but they don’t have to & could choose to bring it back in house if demand picks up or Google charges too much)
I only use WhatsApp for photos & group chats, everything else uses SMS. Does that fit with your narrative?
Er I don’t use WA.
@Er… You should try it. Excellent for keeping in touch with friends, family and also business use.
Free voice and video calls, group calls, file transfers, etc.
Compatible with Android and Apple devices too.
@Howard I use WhatsApp regularly and I’d hardly trust Meta. They have a pretty bad track record with stuff and RCS/Signal is just a better alternative to me.
Nor me, I have no interest in using it, I have not needed to use it, if people want to contact me, then either Phone me, text me, email me and if they really have to, they can send a message on Faceache messenger,
Thankfully people have given up asking me to install WhatsApp, I think it is long enough now to realise I am never going to use it