AI messaging platform Tells.co has received approval to deploy RCS Business Messaging in the United States, allowing the company to run production campaigns using the next generation of mobile messaging technology.

The move places Tells among the early platforms in the U.S. capable of launching live RCS campaigns for businesses, a milestone that could reshape how brands interact with customers through messaging.

RCS—short for Rich Communication Services—is widely considered the most significant upgrade to business messaging since SMS. Unlike traditional text messages, RCS enables interactive and multimedia experiences directly inside a consumer’s default messaging app.

That means brands can now deliver high-resolution images, interactive product carousels, branded sender identities, and action buttons within a conversation thread—without requiring customers to download a dedicated mobile app.

Messaging’s Next Evolution

For years, SMS has remained one of the most reliable communication channels between businesses and customers. But its limitations—plain text messages and minimal interactivity—have increasingly stood out in a world dominated by mobile apps and rich media.

RCS aims to bridge that gap.

The technology allows businesses to transform basic text messages into interactive micro-experiences, where users can browse products, watch videos, schedule appointments, or complete transactions directly within the chat interface.

Momentum for RCS accelerated recently when Apple confirmed support for the protocol across its messaging ecosystem, joining long-standing adoption among Android devices and telecom carriers.

With both major mobile platforms now supporting the technology, RCS is rapidly gaining traction as a potential successor—or at least a powerful complement—to SMS marketing.

Tells.co’s Early Push Into RCS Campaigns

According to David Schlaegel, co-founder of Tells.co, the company designed its platform to support the future of messaging rather than relying solely on legacy communication channels.

“We built Tells to support where messaging is going, not where it's been,” Schlaegel said. “RCS allows businesses to deliver experiences that previously required dedicated mobile apps. Now those experiences can happen directly inside a text conversation.”

With its newly approved deployment capability, Tells clients can begin running RCS-based marketing and customer engagement campaigns in production environments.

This early access could prove important as adoption accelerates.

“Most businesses are still trying to understand what RCS is,” Schlaegel added. “Our clients are already using it in production campaigns. That early head start will matter as the channel scales.”

Rich Messaging Features Built for Engagement

Tells has already rolled out several advanced features designed to take advantage of RCS’s interactive capabilities.

Among them:

AI-Powered Personalized Video Messages
The platform can generate personalized video content using artificial intelligence and deliver it directly within an RCS conversation thread.

Interactive Product Carousels
Businesses can display swipeable product catalogs with embedded action buttons, allowing customers to browse offerings without leaving the messaging interface.

Verified Brand Profiles
RCS supports branded sender identities, enabling businesses to display verified logos and company names inside the conversation—helping reduce spam concerns and build trust.

Actionable Links and Buttons
Messages can include interactive options such as:

• Tap-to-call customer support

• Appointment scheduling

• Payment links

• Directions to physical locations

Together, these tools effectively transform text conversations into mini digital storefronts or service portals.

Why RCS Could Transform Business Messaging

While SMS remains a powerful marketing channel due to its high open rates, it has largely remained unchanged since the 1990s.

RCS introduces features that bring messaging closer to the capabilities typically found in mobile apps or social media platforms.

These include:

• Rich media content

• Interactive user interfaces

• Real-time engagement tools

• Verified brand identities

For businesses, this shift opens the door to app-like experiences delivered through messaging, reducing friction for customers who may not want to install additional apps.

It also aligns with a broader trend toward conversational commerce, where purchasing and service interactions increasingly occur inside chat environments.

A Competitive Messaging Landscape

RCS enters a competitive messaging ecosystem that already includes major business communication channels such as:

• WhatsApp

• Facebook Messenger

• iMessage

However, unlike these platforms, RCS operates within a device’s native messaging app, potentially giving it broader reach without requiring users to sign up for new services.

That native integration could make RCS particularly attractive for brands seeking high engagement without additional app downloads.

Early Movers May Gain an Advantage

Although RCS adoption is still in its early stages in the United States, the technology’s recent support across major mobile ecosystems suggests it could soon become a mainstream marketing channel.

Companies that experiment early may gain valuable experience in designing interactive messaging campaigns before competitors catch up.

For platforms like Tells.co, securing approval to deploy production campaigns now could position them as key infrastructure providers for businesses exploring the future of mobile engagement.

If RCS adoption continues to accelerate, the humble text message may soon evolve into one of the most sophisticated communication tools in digital marketing.

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