Interview with LINK Mobility on RCS: Redefining secure, interactive communication

• LINK Mobility’s Rich Communication Services (RCS) enables richer media experiences, interactive features, and secure, verified brand communication, elevating customer engagement beyond traditional SMS.
• Apple’s support for RCS in iOS 18 enhances LINK Mobility’s reach, bridging Android and iOS, and encouraging more brands to adopt RCS.
• LINK Mobility’s RCS solution prioritises user security with verified sender identities and GDPR-compliant encryption, ensuring privacy in customer communications.

In a recent conversation with Rasa Šaltenė, Head of Sales and Business Development at LINK Mobility Group, we discussed how the company’s RCS API is reshaping mobile communication. LINK Mobility, a key provider of mobile communications solutions, is emerging as a major force in personalised and secure customer interactions.

LINK Mobility was awarded the “Best RCS Provider” Platinum title in the 2022 Future Digital Awards by Juniper Research. The award recognises organisations that have made exceptional contributions to their industry. LINK Mobility was recognised for its innovative Rich Communication Services (RCS) product, which helps global brands connect with customers through promotional and transactional messaging.

Enhanced customer engagement with RCS

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is rapidly gaining traction as a superior alternative to traditional SMS, combining the reliability of SMS with a richer media experience. “RCS allows our enterprise customers to engage better with their consumers,” said Šaltenė. Unlike SMS, RCS supports two-way communication and interactive features, making it ideal for marketing campaigns and other engagement needs.

Unlike SMS, RCS supports two-way communication and interactive features, making it ideal for marketing campaigns and other engagement needs.

LINK Mobility stands out from the competition thanks to its extensive partnerships with telecom operators across Europe. “We have a very strong relationship with operators in Europe, which enables us to use best practices to help brands set up and run successful RCS campaigns,” explained Šaltenė. Furthermore, the company’s investment in natural language processing (NLP) technology has enhanced its offerings, allowing brands to create smarter, AI-driven campaigns that deliver better results.

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RCS’s focus on security and trust

As security and trust become increasingly crucial in customer communications, LINK Mobility’s RCS solution is built to ensure user privacy and secure transactions. “One of the reasons why RCS is gaining an edge over SMS is security,” Šaltenė stated. She highlighted that, unlike SMS, RCS messages come with verified brand identities. This verification ensures that only legitimate brands can communicate with users, thereby preventing the misuse of fake sender IDs.

One of the reasons why RCS is gaining an edge over SMS is security.

All RCS messages are encrypted, adhering to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulations and the requirements of individual countries, ensuring a high level of security for end-users. “Being a European company, we always follow GDPR, and RCS is a secure channel that users can trust when sharing sensitive information,” Šaltenė assured.

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Future outlook and potential for expansion

RCS is currently available in around 80 networks worldwide, with LINK Mobility focusing primarily on European markets. However, there are ambitious plans for expansion into regions such as South East Asia. “We see South East Asia as a very interesting market for RCS, given the rising fraud risks there,” said Šaltenė, hinting at the company’s future growth potential.

Another exciting development is Apple’s recent decision to support RCS in iOS 18. “We are really happy that Apple finally said yes to RCS,” shared Šaltenė. This support is expected to help LINK Mobility convince more brands to adopt RCS, bridging the gap between Android and iOS devices. “Now, with Apple on board, the RCS reach will be even greater.”

We are really happy that Apple finally said yes to RCS. Now, with Apple on board, the RCS reach will be even greater.

“I really want to encourage all the marketing managers to discuss with companies like us how they can adopt the service and communicate with customers better, as RCS campaigns have proven to be much more effective with higher user engagement compared to traditional SMS.”

Šaltenė also predicts that SMS will eventually be limited to basic authentication uses, while RCS, with its rich media features, will become the primary channel for marketing and customer engagement. “Imagine receiving a simple text versus an offer with rich visuals and interactive buttons—RCS takes communication to another level,” she said.

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A new era for messaging

RCS: A TV with colour

According to LINK Mobility, RCS is SMS version 2.0—”like a TV with colour.” With features such as interactive carousels, multimedia content, and call-to-action buttons, RCS is set to transform the messaging landscape, particularly as consumers grow accustomed to rich digital experiences across other media channels. LINK Mobility’s RCS solution provides brands with the flexibility to choose the best communication channels for their campaigns, ensuring maximum impact and engagement.

RCS is SMS 2.0—like TV with colour. I believe it will become the new way of messaging.

More about LINK Mobility Group

LINK Mobility Group is a CPaaS provider headquarted in Oslo, Norway, driving innovation in mobile communications and payments. LINK Mobility enables businesses to effectively engage their audience through channels like SMS, WhatsApp, and automated conversations. By offering scalable, multi-channel solutions, LINK Mobility helps marketing, sales, and customer service teams reach customers in a personalised and impactful way.

The platform simplifies communication while integrating payment capabilities, allowing businesses to drive sales and enhance customer experiences. LINK Mobility’s tailored solutions and dedicated support set it apart, making it a trusted partner across industries.