Rich Communication Suite
Encyclopedia
Rich Communication Suite (RCS) is an industry effort focused on the use of IMS
(IP Multimedia Subsystem) for providing mobile phone
communication services. "Rich Communication" in itself is meaningless jargon, which refers to the use of more than just voice for communication, but has long been touted as a benefit of IMS. It is to be noted that much of the capability of RCS is already available from Internet service providers.
According to the press release, from the end-user point of view RCS would enable communication such as instant messaging
, video sharing
and buddy lists. These capabilities would be available on any type of devices using an open communication between devices and networks. Main features of RCS are:
Wider and large scale IMS deployment, Interoperability between different terminal vendor RCS clients and RCS service interworking between operators are the key aims of RCS Initiative.
and OMA
and combines them with the Enhanced Phonebook. This allows the service capabilities as well as presence information of the different recipients to be shown in the terminal phonebook application.
RCS reuses the capabilities of 3GPP
specified IMS
(IP Multimedia Subsystem) core system as the underlying service platform taking care of issues such as authentication, authorization, registration, charging and routing.
The core feature set of RCS includes:
The following standardized services are a part of RCS concept:
RCS Initiative demonstrated interoperability of the prototype RCS compatible terminals at the Barcelona 3GSM exhibition 2008. RCS Initiative also announced a RCS prototype interoperability demo at IMS World Forum 2008 in Paris.
GSMA press release tells RCS integration testing takes place in Helsinki at the end of September 2008 hosted by TeliaSonera
with a full update on the progress of initiative in Mobile Asia Congress during November.
As of 15 September the RCS initiative is moved to a GSMA work program. The GSMA RCS work program contains further details.
In January 2009, the first multi-operator trial took place using multiple core IMS vendors along with clients and devices. Subsequent to that event, the 3 major French mobile operators, Bouygues Telecom, Orange, and SFR announced intentions to offer a user trial in the second half over 2009. At Mobile World Congress 2009, there were live demonstrations and many RCS member booths featured information on RCS service components. However, as of September 2010 none of these operators have commercially deployed RCS.
SK Telecom launched an RCS service called HD Video Call in South Korea in November 2010, and demonstrated it at Mobile World Congress 2011. As well as allowing users to share video, the HD Video Call service also supports sharing photos and sketches over an RCS-based service.
Note that membership of the RCS initiative does not imply that a company is planning significant launch.
In March 2011, Metaswitch
launched the Thrutu service that has been described as 'RCS-lite', allowing the sharing features of RCS without the infrastructure.
IP Multimedia Subsystem
The IP Multimedia Subsystem or IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem is an architectural framework for delivering Internet Protocol multimedia services. It was originally designed by the wireless standards body 3rd Generation Partnership Project , as a part of the vision for evolving mobile...
(IP Multimedia Subsystem) for providing mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
communication services. "Rich Communication" in itself is meaningless jargon, which refers to the use of more than just voice for communication, but has long been touted as a benefit of IMS. It is to be noted that much of the capability of RCS is already available from Internet service providers.
According to the press release, from the end-user point of view RCS would enable communication such as instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
, video sharing
Video share
Video Share is an IP Multimedia System enabled service for mobile networks that allows users engaged in a circuit switch voice call to add a unidirectional video streaming session over the packet network during the voice call. Any of the parties on the voice call can initiate a video streaming...
and buddy lists. These capabilities would be available on any type of devices using an open communication between devices and networks. Main features of RCS are:
- Enhanced Phonebook, with service capabilities and presence enhanced contacts information
- Enhanced Messaging, which enables a large variety of messaging options including chat and messaging history
- Enriched Call, which enables multimedia content sharing during a voice call. For many years Nokia and Ericsson have been pushing a "see what I see" capability, but this has failed to be taken up by operators, or the way it was deployed failed to result in great take-up by consumers. Bundling this feature with the two other features may help to increase uptake.
Wider and large scale IMS deployment, Interoperability between different terminal vendor RCS clients and RCS service interworking between operators are the key aims of RCS Initiative.
Technical features
RCS leverages the various existing standards, thus RCS takes on board different services defined by e.g. 3GPP3GPP
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, known as the Organizational Partners...
and OMA
Open Mobile Alliance
The Open Mobile Alliance is a standards body which develops open standards for the mobile phone industry.- Principles :Mission: To provide interoperable service enablers working across countries, operators and mobile terminals....
and combines them with the Enhanced Phonebook. This allows the service capabilities as well as presence information of the different recipients to be shown in the terminal phonebook application.
RCS reuses the capabilities of 3GPP
3GPP
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, known as the Organizational Partners...
specified IMS
IP Multimedia Subsystem
The IP Multimedia Subsystem or IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem is an architectural framework for delivering Internet Protocol multimedia services. It was originally designed by the wireless standards body 3rd Generation Partnership Project , as a part of the vision for evolving mobile...
(IP Multimedia Subsystem) core system as the underlying service platform taking care of issues such as authentication, authorization, registration, charging and routing.
The core feature set of RCS includes:
- Enhanced Phonebook, with service capabilities and presence enhanced contacts information
- Enhanced Messaging, which enables a large variety of messaging options including chat and messaging history
- Enriched Call, which enables multimedia content sharing during a voice call.
The following standardized services are a part of RCS concept:
- PresencePresence informationIn computer and telecommunications networks, presence information is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner—for example a user--to communicate...
- Voice callTelephone callA telephone call is a connection over a telephone network between the calling party and the called party.-Information transmission:A telephone call may carry ordinary voice transmission using a telephone, data transmission when the calling party and called party are using modems, or facsimile...
- IMInstant messagingInstant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
- Video ShareVideo shareVideo Share is an IP Multimedia System enabled service for mobile networks that allows users engaged in a circuit switch voice call to add a unidirectional video streaming session over the packet network during the voice call. Any of the parties on the voice call can initiate a video streaming...
- Image ShareImage shareImage Share is a service for sharing images between users during a mobile phone call. It has been specified for use in a 3GPP-compliant cellular network by the GSM Association in the PRD IR.79 Image Share Interoperability Specification....
- SMSShort message serviceShort Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
- MMSMultimedia Messaging ServiceMultimedia Messaging Service, or MMS, is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content to and from mobile phones. It extends the core SMS capability that allowed exchange of text messages only up to 160 characters in length.The most popular use is to send photographs from...
Status
According to Nokia , by February 2008 the RCS Initiative has defined a core feature set, developed reference implementations of the services and conducted interoperability testing in multi-vendor environment. The intention was to have interoperable rich communication services available in 2008. Current aim is that the first interoperable RCS services are set to be launched in mid 2009.RCS Initiative demonstrated interoperability of the prototype RCS compatible terminals at the Barcelona 3GSM exhibition 2008. RCS Initiative also announced a RCS prototype interoperability demo at IMS World Forum 2008 in Paris.
GSMA press release tells RCS integration testing takes place in Helsinki at the end of September 2008 hosted by TeliaSonera
TeliaSonera
TeliaSonera AB is the dominant telephone company and mobile network operator in Sweden and Finland. The company has operations in other countries in Northern, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Spain, with a total of 150 million mobile customers...
with a full update on the progress of initiative in Mobile Asia Congress during November.
As of 15 September the RCS initiative is moved to a GSMA work program. The GSMA RCS work program contains further details.
In January 2009, the first multi-operator trial took place using multiple core IMS vendors along with clients and devices. Subsequent to that event, the 3 major French mobile operators, Bouygues Telecom, Orange, and SFR announced intentions to offer a user trial in the second half over 2009. At Mobile World Congress 2009, there were live demonstrations and many RCS member booths featured information on RCS service components. However, as of September 2010 none of these operators have commercially deployed RCS.
SK Telecom launched an RCS service called HD Video Call in South Korea in November 2010, and demonstrated it at Mobile World Congress 2011. As well as allowing users to share video, the HD Video Call service also supports sharing photos and sketches over an RCS-based service.
Note that membership of the RCS initiative does not imply that a company is planning significant launch.
In March 2011, Metaswitch
Metaswitch
Metaswitch Networks is the trading name of Data Connection Ltd and Data Connection Corp, a private UK-based company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets telecommunications hardware and software solutions to communication service providers, equipment manufacturers and large...
launched the Thrutu service that has been described as 'RCS-lite', allowing the sharing features of RCS without the infrastructure.