RCS Messaging Gets a Sound Upgrade: Enhanced Audio Quality is Coming
It seems like RCS messaging is about to get a significant audio upgrade. After Apple finally jumped on the RCS bandwagon last year, the folks at GSMA haven't been resting on their laurels. They've just rolled out RCS Universal Profile 3.1, and it's all about boosting the quality of audio messages. I think that's a good thing.
The big news? This latest version fully supports the xHE-AAC audio codec. Now, I know that sounds like tech jargon, but what it really means is crisper, clearer voice notes and audio clips. While the previous RCS release could decode this codec, Universal Profile 3.1 can both encode and decode it. So, you're not just hearing better quality audio, you're also sending it.
But here's where it gets interesting. Universal Profile 3.1 also promises "new mechanisms for connecting RCS clients to operator services." GSMA is suggesting that this will lead to a smoother and more dependable user experience, especially when you're dealing with spotty coverage.
If I understand correctly, this means RCS could start acting more like apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which handle network hiccups more gracefully. We've all been there, right? Trying to send a message with one bar of service, hoping it actually goes through. It seems like RCS is aiming to eliminate that frustration.
This update comes hot on the heels of Universal Profile 3.0, which brought end-to-end encryption to iPhone-Android chats and simplified managing subscriptions. It's nice to see these upgrades over time.
And let's not forget the improvements we've been seeing in Google Messages lately. They've added labels for contacts using RCS, a "delete for everyone" feature, and even the ability to snooze notifications. All these things show they are trying to improve the user experience, and they are succeeding!
Source: AndroidAuthority