Latest Universal Profile 3.1 Update Enhances Voice Messages in RCS
Enhanced RCS Messaging: A Step Towards Mainstream Adoption
Universal Profile 3.1 (UP 3.1) for RCS, the latest update, is set to revolutionize the way users communicate, with a focus on improving connectivity, audio quality, security, and user experience.
The most significant change is the full support for the xHE-AAC audio codec, which promises clearer and more natural audio messaging. This codec compresses audio efficiently, delivering high-quality sound even at lower bitrates, improving both speech and non-speech audio content shared via RCS.
Another major improvement is the smarter onboarding and client-server connectivity. UP 3.1 integrates tightly with operating system push notification services, allowing RCS clients to remain idle when not active and wake only when a new message arrives. This reduces battery drain and ensures more reliable messaging, especially in poor network conditions.
Additional enhancements include:
- Better file transfer security and more effective spam reporting to strengthen user privacy and reduce unwanted messages.
- Support for deep links that can open specific conversations directly, adding to navigation convenience within messaging apps.
- A more seamless client-to-operator interface to improve performance under challenging network conditions, making RCS messaging more dependable and user-friendly.
These changes will result in fewer failed messages, smoother setup, lower battery consumption, and higher quality audio messaging. This makes RCS more competitive against other messaging platforms by providing a richer, more reliable communication service with clearer sound and enhanced security.
RCS apps, such as Google Messages, will be implementing these updates. Google Messages is also undergoing a Details page redesign and is testing RCS' new MLS encryption for added security.
With daily 1 billion RCS messages being sent in the US following iPhone adoption, the future of RCS communication looks promising. The updates aim to address core connectivity challenges and elevate media quality, making RCS more appealing to a wider audience.
Sources: [1] https://www.androidcentral.com/google-messages-update-universal-profile-3-1-rcs [2] https://www.gizmochina.com/2021/03/25/universal-profile-3-1-for-rcs-brings-xhe-aac-support-deep-links-and-better-spam-reporting/ [3] https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/03/24/universal-profile-3-1-rcs-update-improves-audio-quality-spam-reporting-and-more/ [4] https://www.androidauthority.com/universal-profile-3-1-rcs-1186711/
- The new enhancements to RCS Messaging, including improved audio quality through the xHE-AAC audio codec and smarter client-server connectivity, position smartphones as ideal devices for clearer communication and more reliable messaging.
- As RCS apps like Google Messages adopt technology advancements such as better file transfer security, deeper links, and MLS encryption, gadgets equipped with RCS become more appealing to users seeking a secure, high-quality messaging experience.
