The future of business messaging
RCS brings app-like experiences to the native Messages app. Rich cards, carousels, branded profiles, and interactive buttons -- all without requiring your customers to download anything.
What is RCS?
Rich Communication Services is Google's standard for next-generation messaging. It upgrades the plain SMS experience with rich media, interactive elements, and verified sender branding -- all delivered through the native Messages app on Android devices.
What RCS makes possible
Go beyond the 160-character limit. RCS gives your messages the interactivity and visual richness of a mobile app.
Rich Cards
Send structured messages with images, titles, descriptions, and action buttons. Perfect for product showcases, booking confirmations, and order updates.
Carousels
Display up to 10 horizontally scrollable cards in a single message. Let customers browse products, compare options, or navigate menus directly in the chat.
Suggested Actions
Add tappable buttons for quick replies, URL opens, phone calls, map directions, and calendar events. Guide customers through structured workflows.
Branded Messages
Verified sender profiles with your logo, brand colors, and business name. Customers see your brand identity instead of a random phone number.
Read Receipts
Know when your message has been delivered and read. Use delivery and read status to trigger follow-ups, reminders, or escalation workflows.
High-Res Media
Send images up to 100MB, videos, GIFs, and audio clips at full resolution. No compression artifacts or file size limitations of MMS.
SMS vs RCS vs WhatsApp
See how RCS stacks up against traditional SMS and WhatsApp Business for customer messaging.
| Feature | SMS | RCS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character limit | 160 (concatenated) | Up to 8,000 | 4,096 |
| Rich media | No | ||
| Branding | Sender ID only | Full brand profile | Business profile |
| Read receipts | No | ||
| Suggested actions | No | Quick replies | |
| Carousels | No | -- | |
| App required | No | -- | |
| Fallback to SMS | N/A | Automatic | Manual |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional |
Get notified when RCS launches in Tanzania
Join the waitlist to get priority access when RCS Business Messaging becomes available. Early access members will receive dedicated onboarding support, migration assistance from SMS, and launch-day pricing.
Waitlist registration will open soon. Check back for updates.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about RCS messaging and its availability in Tanzania.
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the next-generation messaging standard developed by Google and the GSMA to replace SMS. It enables app-like experiences -- rich cards, carousels, suggested reply buttons, branded sender profiles, and read receipts -- all within the native Messages app on Android devices. No separate app download is required.
RCS availability depends on mobile network operator support. We are actively working with Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, and Halotel to bring RCS Business Messaging to Tanzania. Join our early access waitlist to be the first to know when it launches and to get priority onboarding.
RCS requires support from the mobile network operator and the device manufacturer. On Android, Google Messages provides universal RCS support over data. We are in discussions with all four Tanzanian MNOs to enable carrier-native RCS. Initial rollout will likely begin with Vodacom and Airtel, with other operators following.
RCS messages are richer than SMS but are expected to be priced competitively. Pricing will be per message with tiers based on message type (basic, rich card, carousel). Since RCS uses data rather than the SMS channel, costs are not tied to traditional SMS gateway fees. We will publish detailed pricing closer to launch.
Yes. The Sakura SMS API is designed for multi-channel messaging. When RCS becomes available, you will be able to add it as a channel alongside SMS, WhatsApp, and Chat. Our intelligent routing will automatically send RCS to supported devices and fall back to SMS for devices that do not support it, ensuring universal reach.
Need messaging today? Start with SMS.
SMS reaches every phone in Tanzania. Start sending now and upgrade to RCS when it launches -- same API, zero migration effort.