Advanced Messaging, also called Rich Communication Services (RCS), from T-Mobile is an enhanced messaging feature built into the manufacturer's messaging app on T-Mobile smartphones. RCS gives an improved messaging experience, allows larger multimedia file transfer, and shows interactive notifications when messages are being written, delivered, and read.

About Advanced Messaging

T-Mobile and Google partner to enable T-Mobile customers with RCS UP 1.0 Android devices to get a RCS messaging experience while texting with Android users on other networks.

Previously, RCS UP 1.0 messaging capabilities were only available while messaging with other T-Mobile customers.

Requirements for cross network RCS messages

To experience RCS messaging features while texting with users on other networks, you need an Android smartphone with RCS Universal Profile 1.0 (UP 1.0) capabilities and be messaging with another T-Mobile user with a UP 1.0 device or with someone using chat features on the Messages app by Google.

Generally, most Android smartphones from 2018 or newer have RCS UP 1.0 capabilities. As of May 26, 2020, there are nearly 40 T-Mobile device models that are RCS UP 1.0 capable.

T-Mobile users must be connected to the T-Mobile network or Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE turned on.

Both parties must be on Android devices.

You can use the pre-installed messaging app on your devices to experience RCS UP 1.0 features while messaging with someone on other networks. To check if the messaging app is the default app: Press and hold on the current messaging app > Tap Advanced . If the app says it was installed from the Play Store, then it is not the default app.

There is no app to download, no separate account to configure, and no password to enter.

RCS Universal Profile (UP 1.0)

With the UP 1.0 upgrade, the follow enhancements were made to Advance Messaging:

Attachment size : 100MB

: 100MB Enhanced group chat features : 100 participants Subject can be customized Group Icon can be customized Group Administrator can be added

: Messaging with other service providers: Universal Profile 1.0 features will work as soon as other carrier adopt/support the RCS Universal Profile 1.0 Standards.

Manage Advanced Messaging preferences

Advanced Messaging comes enabled out of box. You don’t have to do anything to get started. To learn how to manage Advanced Messaging preferences, check out the Devices page for your device.

Advanced Messaging vs Universal Profile 1.0

Features Advanced Messaging Universal Profile 1.0 "Is Typing" status Yes Yes Read and Delivered status Yes Yes File size limit Up to 10MB Up to 100MB Group chat size limit 20 participants 100 participants Group chat subject No Yes Group chat icon No Yes Group Administrator No Yes Messaging between carrier (Carrier interoperability) No Yes*

*Universal Profile 1.0 support is designed to work across different wireless providers as soon as they’re ready to support it and interconnect with T-Mobile.

FAQs

What devices support Advanced Messaging?

You can check if a device has Advanced Messaging by visiting Tech specs > Connectivity for any device in Devices.

What happens if some participants of a group chat do not have a Universal Profile 1.0 capable device?

The group chat message capabilities will default to the device with the lowest denominator (MMS < Advanced Messaging < Advanced Messaging with UP 1.0). For example, if a new group chat is created and one of the receiving devices does not support Universal Profile 1.0, the group chat will be limited to a max of 20 participants and 10MB file transfers. All devices participating in the message must support the Universal Profile 1.0 software to enjoy the new messaging capabilities.

Are there visual indicators to know if someone else has the Universal Profile 1.0 update?

This can vary since each handset manufacturer’s native messaging app is different. When you’re in an RCS message with someone else, you may now see messages indicating “read” and you will be able to see that the other person is typing through the three dot typing indicator.