If we are thinking of sending a friend or our partner at the moment, it is normal for us to shoot the usual: WhatsApp. Messaging applications have been in the shade of this application for years, Meta possessed. There are alternatives such as Telegram that stand in front, as well as others of European origin. It is in applications, because there is Another element that also wants to be a real rival for WhatsApp: We are talking about RCS.
We used the word “element” and not the application or the software because it goes much further. RCS (or rich communication services) is a proposal that claims two things that go hand in hand: Be the natural substitute for SMS and offer an alternative to WhatsApp which does not depend on a specific application. We tell you that it is exactly the RCS, as you can use from your mobile.
What is the RCS and where does he come from
If we think of a WhatsApp alternative, it is normal for an application to come to my mind. However, the RCS cannot be classified as an application because it goes further. The easiest way to define it is as A modern standard whose objective is, as we have said before, to arrive at SMS and MMS.
The career of this standard comes from far away. We have to come back about 9 years To plant us in the 2016 MWC, an event in which Google and the GSMA (a conglomerate of operators and related companies) took the opportunity to announce it. As we will see later, it is a standard that is offered in the default messaging application of most modern phones.
Thanks to this, we have on our phone, nativelyA powerful communication tool and with which to communicate practically who we want. In this way, as it is not an application, each manufacturer can establish a solution to send compatible messages with RCS, giving more freedom to each brand.
It would offer an experience similar to Imessage which is available in iOS, although with greater compatibility, because the RCS already allows communication between Android users and the Apple operating system. Have this on our device This does not mean that we can no longer send SMSBecause it will continue to be a possibility.
RCS vs Whatsapp and other messaging applications
Now that we understand the context and know that it is the RCS, what touches us is to place it in a balance and compare it with WhatsApp (and other messaging applications). As it makes sense, the idea is that it allows us to communicate with who we want, although in this case without needing for us or the recipient of the message, Must download absolutely nothing. This is possible because the standard is compatible with all manufacturers.
The fact of having taken place at SMS and MMS implies that it should also be a standard compatible with the sending of text not only, but also more elements. Indeed, RCS is compatible with a wide range of filesLike photographs, videos, vocal notes and more, as long as it does not exceed 10 MB. In addition, it also allows the creation of groups.
In terms of features, it does not have much to envy other messaging applications. The RCS is compatible with the functions to which we are more than used to, As the icon indicating that the message has been delivered or that the other person has read it, as well as notification in case the other person writes. What if we send a message with RCS and the other person has no compatible mobile? Nothing happens: there will come a normal SMS.
Another point to consider: WhatsApp is an application that requires both the installation of an application and the recording. It is something that is not present with the RCS, because it works through A universal profile linked to our phone number. In addition, the standard is designed to operate even when we barely have a coverage, something WhatsApp cannot say (which requires that we are connected to the Internet).
We can check encryption as a safety measure
Finally, there is security. Messaging applications such as WhatsApp use extremely at the end of the messages we send, but these go through servers which, in this case, belong to the finish line. This does not happen with RCS because these They pass through certain servers certified by GSMA called JIBA Cloudwhich do not depend on a business.
The use of RCS is very simple: you just need an adjustment
As we said above, the RCS standard is compatible with almost all current mobiles (including iPhone with iOS 18). The configuration we need to operate the messages with the same will depend on the mobile as we have, as we have said above, the standard will be available In the default messaging application.
Let's start on the iPhone first. In this case, the application is called “messages”, although for configuration We have to go to the settings. In this menu, what we need to look for is the application section and, inside, click on “messages”. All we have to do is make sure that it is activated.
Image: Mobile Xataka
On Android phones, the configuration is very similar, although the place we have to approach is different. In Google's “messages” application, we have to click on the image with our profile photo and immediately, then go 'Message parameters'. A new menu will appear with an option called “RCS cats”: press and activate the tab.
With this small adjustment, we will be ready to use the RCS to communicate with who we want. As we said before, it is necessary that the other person also has this adjustment, because otherwise we will send an SMS. An indicator will appear when opening a conversation with the other person It will tell us if it is a RCS cat, so we don't have to worry.
Image | Juan Lorente
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