It's the end of an era. The iconic SMS, these little messages that we have used for decades, will soon disappear. MMS, for photos and videos, will also go away. Their successor has been designated and has already appeared: the RCS!
The very first SMS was sent on December 3, 1992. It was written by a young British developer: “Merry Christmas“, a message sent to a colleague. Since then, this system has become universal, but technology has evolved, and its age is starting to be felt. 15 years ago, in 2010, the French sent on average 219 text messages per month. Today, that figure has dropped to just 103 messages per month. For what ? Because of social networks and applications like WhatsApp, Messenger or Telegram, which offer much more modern functions. SMS messages are limited to 160 characterstheir sending is slow, and the photos lose quality. It has become an outdated tool.
RCS, or Rich Communication Serviceswill replace SMS over the course of the year. This new system will make it possible to send interactive messages, share all types of multimedia content (photos, videos, files), create group conversations… and all this, no size limit. RCS no longer go through the traditional telephone network, but use Internet : in 4G, 5G or via Wi-Fi.
An easy transition
No need to download any app. The RCS will be integrated directly into your phone, in the “Messages” tab. Google has already deployed this technology on Android, and iPhones will be compatible by now 2025. French operators are following suit: Free, SFR and Bouygues already offer RCS, and Orange will add them soon.
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