RCS Specification – learn the requirements and technical details related to RCS messaging.
RCS Technical Specification (Documentation)
The new communication standard RCS (Rich Communication Services) is currently being implemented. Below you will find the RCS technical specification. Also, check the official Google Documentation.
RCS Brand Agent
The * symbol indicates elements required in the RCS documentation.
| Element | Requirements | Description |
| Name* | up to 40 characters with spaces | display name that will appear in the conversation header and inbox |
| Description* | up to 100 characters with spaces | – additional description, space for a slogan or claim – displayed on the brand agent profile and at the start of the conversation |
| Color | HEX format | – color of the brand agent’s fixed elements – if no color is specified, a default color will be selected |
| Banner* | – allowed formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG – dimensions: 1440×448 px | wide graphic that will be displayed on the brand agent profile |
| Logo* | – allowed formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG – dimensions: 224×224 px | – graphic that appears in the inbox and in the conversation window header; – the logo is cropped to a circle, so do not place important elements in the corners |
| Phone number* | phone number | fixed brand agent element with a handset icon |
| Website* | URL address | fixed brand agent element with a globe icon |
| Email* | email address | fixed brand agent element with an envelope icon |
| Contact | up to three elements from each group | additional information that directs customers to the website or phone/email contact |
| Contact: Phone | – phone number – label | label, e.g., Customer Service |
| Contact: Website | – URL address – label | label, e.g., Homepage |
| Contact: Email | – email address – label | label, e.g., Write to us |
| Privacy Policy | URL address | link to your company’s privacy policy in the Options section |
| Terms of Service | URL address | link to your terms of service in the Options section |
RCS Basic
| Element | Requirements | Description |
| Brand agent | see RCS Brand Agent table | each message will be provided with a verified brand agent |
| Content | up to 160 characters with spaces | content of the RCS Basic message; you can use emojis and special characters |
| Interactions | none | suggested actions cannot be added; use other RCS types to include them |
RCS Single
| Element | Requirements | Description |
| Brand agent | see RCS Brand Agent table | each message will be provided with a verified brand agent |
| Content | – up to 3072 characters with spaces OR – media file (see below) | content of the RCS Single message; you can use emojis and special characters or add one media file |
| Media file: Graphic | – formats: JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG – size up to 100 MB | – graphic, photo, chart, infographic, QR code – recommended size: below 10 MB |
| Media file: Video | – formats: H263, M4V, MP4, MPEG4, MPEG, WEBM – size up to 100 MB | – movie, animation, video presentation – recommended size: below 10 MB |
| Media file: Audio | – formats: AAC, MP3, MPEG, MPG, MP4, MP4-LATM, 3GPP, OGG – size up to 100 MB | – sound, voice, recording, music, podcast – recommended size: below 10 MB |
| Media file: Document | – format: PDF – size up to 100 MB | – ebook, instruction, manual, presentation – recommended size: below 10 MB |
| Interactions in message | – up to 11 suggested actions or replies below the message – each: up to 25 characters with spaces | see RCS Interactions |
RCS Rich Card
| Element | Requirements | Description |
| Brand agent | see RCS Brand Agent table | each message will be provided with a verified brand agent |
| Title | up to 200 characters with spaces | card header; you can use emojis and special characters |
| Content | up to 2000 characters with spaces | card content; you can use emojis and special characters |
| Media file | – graphic OR – video | specify the type of file to be placed on the card |
| Media file: Graphic | – formats: JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG – size up to 100 MB | – graphic, photo, chart, infographic, QR code – recommended size: below 10 MB |
| Media file: Video | – formats: H263, M4V, MP4, MPEG4, MPEG, WEMB – size up to 100 MB | – movie, animation, video presentation – recommended size: below 10 MB |
| Card orientation | – horizontal (requires: file + title/content/interaction) OR – vertical (any combination possible) | choose layout: – horizontal: elements arranged left to right – vertical: elements arranged top to bottom |
| Horizontal: File position | – left OR – right | display location of the media file |
| Horizontal: Media | recommended width: 128 px | height adjusts to text elements |
| Vertical: Media | rec. heights: short (122px), medium (168px), tall (264px) | width adjusts to the screen |
| Interactions on card | up to 4 suggested actions or replies pinned to the card | see RCS Interactions |
| Interactions in message | up to 11 suggested actions or replies below the message | see RCS Interactions |
Recommended media widths and heights are in pixels; check Google Documentation.
RCS Carousel
| Element | Requirements | Description |
| Brand agent | see RCS Brand Agent table | each message will be provided with a verified brand agent |
| Cards | from 2 to 10 Rich Cards | an RCS carousel can consist of up to 10 Rich Cards |
| Card width | – small carousel: max 180 px OR – medium carousel: max 296 px | choose one option |
| Card height | – small carousel: max 542 px OR – medium carousel: max 592 px | card height scales to the tallest card |
| Title | up to 200 characters with spaces | card header; you can use emojis and special characters |
| Content | text cropped to carousel height | card content; you can use emojis and special characters |
| Interactions on card | up to 4 suggested actions or replies per card | each card can have different interactions |
| Interactions in message | up to 11 suggested actions or replies below the carousel | see RCS Interactions |
Recommended media widths and heights are in pixels; check Google Documentation.
RCS Interactions
Interactions (Suggested Actions and Suggested Replies) can be added to any RCS type except RCS Basic.
| Element | Requirements | Description |
| Interactions on card | up to 4 actions/replies | displayed within the Rich Card or Carousel card |
| Interactions in message | up to 11 actions/replies | displayed below the last message |
| Suggested actions | up to 25 characters with spaces | – personalized content – icons matched to the action |
| Action: Dial number | – phone number – label | redirects to the default dialer with the number pre-filled |
| Action: View location | – coordinates or pin – label | redirects to the default maps app at the specified location |
| Action: Share location | – user-provided location – label | sends the user’s location (does not have to be real) |
| Action: Open URL | – URL address – label | – opens the address in the browser or associated app – deep links will have matched icons |
| Action: Create calendar event | – event information – label | redirects to the default calendar app to create a new event |
| Action: Send message | – phone number – label | redirects to the default messaging app to a specified number |
| Suggested replies | up to 25 characters with spaces | – automatic information exchange within a scenario – no icons, but supports emojis |
