Get started with branded RCS messaging

• Only certain countries support RCS messaging.
• You can't create or onboard RCS Senders programmatically at scale.

Complete these tasks before configuring RCS:

1. Sign up for Twilio.
2. Upgrade to a paid Twilio account.
3. Set up Messaging Services with a phone number for SMS or MMS.
   • Not all phone numbers can receive RCS messages.
   • Messaging Services send messages using SMS or MMS when RCS messages fail or carriers don't support them.

Follow these steps to set up and configure RCS messaging with Twilio.

To complete the setup process, allow four to six weeks or longer if you plan to launch in multiple regions.

1. Log in to the [Twilio Console][tw-console].

2. Go to Explore Products > Programmable Communications > RCS.
   The RCS Senders page displays.

3. Click Create RCS Sender.

4. Type the name of your sender in the Sender display name box.

   (information)

   Creating multiple Senders for the same brand?

   When creating multiple RCS Senders for the same brand (for example, "Owl Homes"), use unique display names for each Sender so users can tell them apart in their Messaging app. (for example, "Owl Homes Support" and "Owl Homes Promotion"). Carriers typically don't approve RCS Senders with the same display name and logo.

5. Review the terms and conditions. If you accept them, select I acknowledge and agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

6. Click Continue. The Create Sender: Public details page displays.

7. Provide the following data. Twilio RCS requires values for all of these fields. Carriers in some countries have Special Considerations regarding a Sender's public display.

   Field	Description	Requirements	Devices
   Display name	Name shown to users	Unique per RCS Sender	iOS, Android
   Description	Brief summary of sender including how users interact with it	Doesn't support HTML, JSON, Unix commands, or escaped characters.	iOS, Android
   Logo image	Brand logo in conversations	JPEG, JPG, or PNG image, 224 x 224 pixels, max size 50kB, accessible from a public URL	iOS, Android
   Banner image	Banner at top of conversation	JPEG, JPG, or PNG image, 1140 x 448 pixels, max size 200 kB, accessible from a public URL	Android
   Accent color	Color of certain elements displayed	Can match brand colors. Use a [minimum contrast ratio of 4.5 to 1][contrast] compared to white. Type a [HTML color code][hexcolor] or click the color icon and choose a color.	Android
   Contact details	One or more labeled phone numbers, email addresses, or websites	Requires at least one phone number or email address. Format phone numbers as [E.164][e164].	iOS, Android
   Privacy policy URL	Link to brand privacy policy	May need to be accessible in country's official language.	iOS, Android
   Terms of service URL	Link to brand terms of service	May need to be accessible in country's official language.	iOS, Android

8. Click Next. The Create Sender: Try it out page displays along with a banner that states You have successfully update the sender.

1. Click Add device to test this sender.

   • If you don't want to configure your Sender for incoming messages, click Done.

2. Type your phone number in [E.164][e164] format in the box.

3. Click Invite.

4. The RBM Tester Management Sender sends a test RCS message to your phone.

5. To accept the invite, tap Make me a tester on your phone. Your phone displays this message:

   You have been confirmed as a tester of the RBM agent: <Display Name>.

6. The modal changes to Send test message and displays the following message:

   The owner of <PHONE_NUMBER> has accepted the tester invitation for this sender. The invite was sent to their SMS inbox.

   Select the checkbox next to this message.

7. To send another test RCS message, type a message in the Your message box.

8. Click Send.

9. Check your phone again. It should receive a message from the Display name you provided with the text of the message you wrote.

10. The Send test message modal refreshes and provides you a chance to send another message.

    • To send another message, write a message into the box then click Send.
    • To stop sending test messages, click Cancel. The modal closes.

11. If you don't want to add another test device, click Done. The page displays a congratulation page and offer next steps.

    • To submit your compliance page, click Go to Compliance Registration tab and skip to Register for compliance.
    • To view your sender, click View Sender.

To configure your app to accept inbound messages, complete the following procedure.

1. Click the Configuration tab.

2. On this tab, provide the following details:

   Field	Description	Values
   Webhook URL for incoming messages	App endpoint that receives incoming messages.	Valid URL following [RFC 1808][rfc1808]
   Webhook method	HTTP method used to reach the incoming webhook URL.	POST, PUT
   Fallback URL for incoming messages	App endpoint targeted when the incoming messages URL can't be reached or a runtime exception triggered.	Valid URL following [RFC 1808][rfc1808]
   Webhook method	HTTP method used to reach the fallback webhook URL.	POST, PUT
   Status callback URL	App endpoint that displays the delivery status.	Valid URL following [RFC 1808][rfc1808]
   Webhook method	HTTP method used to reach the status callback URL.	POST, PUT
   Assigned Messaging Service	Messaging service that your app uses.

3. To finish creating the RCS Sender, click Save configuration.

   • To continue to edit and refine the RCS Sender, click View Sender.
   • To explore RCS, send RCS messages to phone numbers added as test devices, click the Test tab.
   • Before you may message phone numbers not added to your Sender as a test device, carriers must approve the RCS Sender. To submit your RCS Sender for approval, click Compliance registration tab.

If you haven't added the required data on the Public details page, the Twilio Console displays the following message and blocks further actions:

Your sender cannot be sent for approval. Complete all required sender profile fields here to continue

Compliance registration requires data about your business. The details depend on where you register your RCS sender.

When you have this data at hand, start the following procedures:

1. Click Add countries. The Add countries modal displays.

2. From the Select destination countries for your RCS Sender dropdown menu, select the countries in which you want to register your RCS sender.

   View the list of available countries

   If you choose United States, the modal adds information on the additional annual and submission fees involved with registering an RCS sender in the US. Twilio doesn't charge these fees. They come from the companies that verify your brand and submit your compliance registration.

   • To continue, click I understand and agree to pay the above US RCS onboarding fees.

3. If you approve of the list, click Save countries. The Add countries modal closes. A banner displays You have successfully updated the sender.

4. The RCS sender compliance page displays the list of countries that you chose.

   • The first row lists all non-US countries or Global requirement if you didn't select any non-US countries.
     • The Registration name column displays Google Registration with the What will I need? link to an explanation of required data. If you click that link, the What will you need to complete Google RCS registration? panel appears and explains what data you need to provide. To close this panel, click ✖.
     • All of these countries display in the Country column.
     • The Status column displays Not Started.
     • The Price column displays the price associated with registration in US dollars (USD).
     • The Actions column displays a Start button and a trash can button so you can remove selected countries.
   • The second row displays the US in its own row.
     • The Registration name column displays US Registration with the What will I need? link to an explanation of required data. If you click that link, the What will I need to complete US RCS registration? panel appears and explains what data you need to provide. To close this panel, click ✖.

If you didn't choose any country other than the US, you still must complete this section.

1. Click Start for the Google registration. The Basic information page appears.

2. Type a human-readable label in the General RCS registration friendly name. This value can't exceed 64 characters.

3. Click Next. The All countries are required to submit Google RCS registration. page appears. It includes the same content as the What will you need to complete Google RCS registration? panel.

4. Click Start. The Authorized representative page appears.

5. Type responses about the individual your company wants to register as its representative into the following fields.

   Field	Expected value
   First name	The given name of your representative
   Last name	The surname of your representative
   Email	An RFC 5322 compliant email address of your representative
   Business title	The position your representative holds at your organization.
   Business website URL	The publicly available URL of your organization that holds some tie to your business name.

6. Click Next. The Describe your your opt-in and opt-out policies for this sender page appears.

7. Type responses about how you get consumer consent for your RCS messaging.

   Field	Character limit	Expected value	Example
   Agent access instructions	1,000	A description of how reviewers of this registration can test the RCS sender.	We offer a website where reviewers can invite and add phone numbers.
   Opt-in description	1,000	A description of how consumers opt-in to receiving messages.	Consumers get offered the option to sign up at checkout.
   Opt-in policy image URL		A publicly available URL that provides either a screenshot of the opt-in page, a web page where the consumer opts in, or a document that explains how consumers opt-in.	https://example.com/userprefs
   Opt-out description		The message sent to a consumer from this sender when they opt out.	You've successfully unsubscribed from Acme, Inc. texts. You will no longer receive messages from this number. Reply START to resubscribe.

8. Click Next. The Describe your messaging use case page appears.

9. Type responses to carrier-required data about both you and your messages.

   Field	Character limit	Expected value
   What triggers messages to be sent to recipients?	1,000	Description of actions that trigger messages to consumers including timing of the first message sent to the consumer, consistent timing of messages, and the type of actions that trigger messages.
   Use case description	1,000	Description of how the RCS sender interacts with consumers, including primary, common interactions and the secondary, possible interactions.
   Use case video URL		A publicly available URL to a video that shows your core sender functionality and opt-out capabilities. This is for review purposes only.

10. Click Next. The Notification settings page appears.

11. Type responses about who and how you get updates on your RCS sender registration status.

    Field	Necessity	Expected value
    Notification email	Required	An RFC 5322 compliant email address. The email address you provided as part of your Public details. You can change the address.
    Status callback URL	Optional	A publicly available URL that serves as an endpoint for a webhook.

12. Click Next. The Review and submit page appears.

13. Check the values you provided.

    • If they appear correct, click Submit registration. The Thanks for completing your Google RCS registration! page appears. Click Finish.
    • If they need correction, click Back until the relevant page displays and make your changes.

14. Your next steps depend on needing to get RCS sender approval for US recipients.

    • If you also need to get RCS sender approval with the US, continue to the next section.
    • If you don't need to get RCS sender approval with the US, continue to Await RCS sender approval.

If you didn't choose any country other than the US, you still must complete the previous section.

1. Click Start for the US registration.

2. Type a human-readable label in the US RCS registration friendly name. This value can't exceed 64 characters.

3. Click Next. The United States carriers require additional details to register your sender. page appears. It includes the same content as the What will I need to complete US RCS registration? panel.

4. Click Start. The Business information page appears.

5. Type responses about your company into the following fields.

   Field	Expected value
   Legal business name	US entities: The Legal Company Name as stated on your IRS CP 575 EIN Confirmation Letter. Non-US entities: The name as registered with your local tax authority.
   Company type	The type of business that matches your business: Government, Nonprofit corporation, Private corporation, Private corporation, or Sole Proprietorship.
   Business registration issuing country	Leave this as United States.
   Business registration number	The US EIN or FTIN under which your business was registered.
   Business industry	The industry that most closely matches that of the business.
   Brand contact phone number	A single phone number written in the [E.164][e164] format.

   View the list of industries

6. Click Next. The Business address page appears.

7. Type your legal address associated with your business registration number into the field.

   • As you start typing, address options start displaying. Choose from the list or continue typing until you find your address.

8. Click Next. The Details about your RCS use case traffic. page appears.

9. Type responses to the current and expected website traffic related to SMS, shortcode, and RCS messaging. All fields require a value, even if you don't use shortcodes at present. If that's the case, write NONE.

   Field	Expected value
   Monthly organic website traffic	The monthly visits to the website associated with your use case expressed as an integer.
   Does this use case have existing short code traffic?	Yes or No
   Provide the existing short code associated with this use case	A comma-seperated list of shortcodes associated with your use case.
   Estimated monthly traffic volume for the existing short code number	The monthly visits to the website from the existing shortcodes associated with your use case expressed as an integer.
   Expected monthly RCS sender traffic volume	The expected monthly visits to the website from the RCS associated with your use case expressed as an integer.

10. Click Next. The Details about your RCS campaign. page appears.

11. Type responses that describe your RCS campaign and how it handles opt-in, opt-out, and other informative messages.

    Field	Character limit	Expected value	Example
    Campaign description	1,000	A clear and comprehensive overview of the campaign's objectives and interactions the consumer would experience after opting in.	This campaign will send updates on scheduled moves, confirmations, real-time alerts, responses to inquiries, and special offers on moving or storage services.
    Message flow and opt-in description	1,000	The step-by-step procedure that explains how consumers opt-in to messaging for this RCS sender.	Consumer visits a page on our website. They complete a form. They check a box declaring they consent to these RCS messages. They click submit.
    Help sample message		An example of a message returned when the consumer sends a HELP command.	We're sorry that you're having difficulties. To check your balance, press 1. To pause your next shipment, press 2. To have a rep call you, press 3.
    Stop sample message		An example of a message returned when the consumer sends a STOP command.	You have been removed from our messages. Send START to restart messages.
    Message service type		The single reason that you started this message campaign.	See list that follows this table.

    View the list of message service types

12. Click the I acknowledge that my privacy policy clearly states we do not share text messaging consent information with third parties. box.

13. Click the I acknowledge that my Terms of Service include the following: box.

14. Review the CTIA handbook guidelines, then click the I acknowledge that I have reviewed the CTIA handbook guidelines and this RCS Sender is in compliance with its requirements. box.

15. Click Next. The Notification settings page appears.

16. Type responses about who and how you get updates on your RCS sender registration status.

    Field	Necessity	Expected value
    Notification email	Required	An RFC 5322 compliant email address. The email address you provided as part of your Public details. You can change the address.
    Status callback URL	Optional	A publicly available URL that serves as an endpoint for a webhook.

17. Click Next. The Use case and campaign details page appears.

18. Check the values you provided.

    • If they appear correct, click Submit registration. The Thanks for completing your Google RCS registration! page appears. Click Finish.
    • If they need correction, click Back until the relevant page displays and make your changes.

Monitor your RCS Sender approval status.

• During the approval process, the RCS Sender displays an icon in the Pending Review column of the Senders table.
• Approval timelines vary by carrier.
• At any point you can reply to the initial support ticket to get an update.
• When one carrier goes live or received approval in a given country, you can start using this RCS Sender in production.

1. Add the RCS Sender to a Messaging Service.

   Once at least one carrier has approved, configure the RCS Sender for production use:

   1. Go to the Messaging Services page in the Twilio Console.
   2. Choose from two options:
      • Go to the RCS Sender's Configuration tab and assign it to a Messaging Service.
      • Go to your Messaging Service's Sender Pool tab and add the RCS Sender.

   You can associate only one RCS Sender with each Messaging Service.

2. Set up Advanced Opt-Out handling for the RCS Sender:

   1. Go to the Messaging Services page in the Twilio Console.
   2. Click your Messaging Service and select Opt-Out Management from the sidebar.
   3. Configure opt-out keywords and responses in the local language of your target regions.
   4. Click Enable Advanced Opt-Out.

To learn more about Advanced Opt-Out, see Customizing Users' Opt-in and Opt-out Experience with Advanced Opt-Out.

To learn how to send and receive branded RCS messages using the Messages resource, see Send and receive branded RCS messages.

You can also use Twilio Studio to send and receive RCS messages. To learn how to connect a Flow for inbound messaging and use the Studio API for outbound messaging, see Use RCS messaging with Studio.

To stop using RCS, you can either send messages through a different messaging service or remove the RCS Sender from the Messaging Service.

To remove the RCS Sender from the Messaging Services:

1. Log in to the [Twilio Console][tw-console].
2. Go to Messaging > Services.
3. Select the Messaging Service associated with the RCS Sender.
4. Click Sender Pool in the sidebar.
5. Click Remove. This deletes the RCS Sender from the Messaging Service.

To remove the Messaging Service from the RCS Sender:

1. Log in to the [Twilio Console][tw-console].
2. Go to Explore Products > Programmable Communications > RCS > Senders.
   The RCS Senders page displays.
3. Click on the RCS Sender to change.
4. Click the Configuration tab.
5. Set the Messaging Service to None.
6. Click Save Configuration.