Observed Signal · Jun 9, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: https://martechseries.com/feed/ · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Tells Launches RCS Business Messaging for Verified Brands
Tells announced general availability of Tells RCS Messaging in the United States on June 9, 2026. The product delivers verified-brand RCS messages to both iOS and Android using Google’s RCS Business Messaging and Apple’s RCS Universal Profile, and provides automatic SMS fallback through a single API call. Verified senders display brand logo, registered name and a verification checkmark in recipient threads. The platform supports rich cards, carousels, suggested replies, action buttons (call, URL, calendar event, one‑time location), read receipts and typing indicators where supported. Tells says throughput for verified brands is comparable to short code SMS, and the capability is available to existing and new Tells customers after completing brand verification. Developer documentation and sample payloads are published in Tells’ developer portal.
General availability of a cross‑platform RCS messaging product simplifies branded mobile messaging for marketers and could accelerate adoption of RCS as a standardized rich messaging channel, but the announcement is a vendor product launch rather than a platform-level policy or industry-shifting regulation.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Tells announced general availability of Tells RCS Messaging in the United States on June 9, 2026.
- The product supports iOS and Android using Google RCS Business Messaging and Apple RCS Universal Profile with automatic SMS fallback via a single API.
- Verified senders’ messages show brand logo, registered brand name and a verification checkmark instead of an unidentified phone number.
- Tells RCS Messaging supports rich cards, carousels, suggested replies, action buttons (call, URL, add calendar event, request one-time location), read receipts and typing indicators where supported.
- Tells made RCS available to all customers without a separate contract; existing customers can enable RCS on brand‑verified senders and developer documentation is in the Tells portal.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mappedOntology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Tells.co First to Launch RCS Messaging in the U.S.
Tells.co, an AI-powered high-volume messaging platform, announced it has been approved to deploy RCS Business Messaging in the United States, placing the company among the first U.S. platforms able to run production RCS campaigns. RCS (Rich Communication Services) enables app-like, rich-media interactions inside a consumer’s default messaging app — including high-resolution images, interactive buttons, branded sender identities and product carousels. Tells.co said it has launched advanced RCS features such as AI-generated personalized video messages, interactive product carousels with action buttons, verified branded sender profiles, and rich action links for tap-to-call, appointment scheduling, payments and directions. The company framed the approval as an early advantage as RCS gains momentum following Apple’s adoption and expanding carrier support in the United States.
SlickText Adds RCS Messaging Support
SlickText announced support for basic Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging, allowing businesses to acquire a carrier-verified sender profile that displays brand name and logo alongside eligible messages. The company says RCS can improve deliverability and engagement — citing up to 12% higher click-through rates and 18% higher conversion rates versus traditional SMS — and plans to expand RCS capabilities over time. Businesses can apply for RCS through SlickText and, once approved, will have verified sender profiles shown to supported devices. Rob Trumble, President of SlickText, is quoted on the benefit of branded, verified sender profiles for trust and engagement.
Tells Launches Gideon AI for Real-Time SMS Audits
Tells, a high-volume SMS and RCS messaging platform, announced Gideon, a proprietary AI compliance monitoring system that audits every outbound SMS campaign in real time before messages reach carrier networks. Gideon evaluates campaigns against 30 compliance intelligence categories, flagging failed campaigns with specific audit findings so operators can correct issues pre-send. The system is embedded as a continuous, pre-send compliance layer within the Tells platform and operates on carrier-vetted short code infrastructure. Additionally, Tells.co will attend LEND360 2026 in Austin, Texas, from October 12-14, 2026, to discuss its messaging capabilities in borrower communication workflows, including SMS, RCS, AI agents, REST API, and CRM integrations. The company emphasizes speed, consent, and integration, with compliance remaining the operator's responsibility.
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