GSMA Finalizes RCS Universal Profile 4.0 with Native Video Calling
The GSMA has officially finalized the RCS Universal Profile 4.0, marking a significant advancement in messaging technology. The headline feature is the integration of native video calling directly into messaging applications, eliminating the need to switch to third-party apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Google Meet during conversations.
Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC)
This new feature, known as Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC), allows users to escalate any one-to-one or group RCS chat into a video call without leaving the thread. Group members who miss the initial ring can join an ongoing call later, and call logs are synchronized within the chat timeline. When implemented, this will be the first natively supported video call experience that works seamlessly across different devices and networks, enabling Android-to-iPhone video calls through default messaging apps.
Enhanced Text Formatting and Media Quality
Beyond video calling, RCS 4.0 introduces rich text formatting capabilities, including bold, italics, and strikethrough—features that have been available in third-party apps for years. Backward compatibility is built in, ensuring that if a recipient's device does not support formatting, they will see a plain-text fallback instead of garbled messages.
Media sharing also receives a substantial upgrade. Devices will now identify which formats the other person's phone supports and automatically select the best encoding. This results in higher-quality photos, audio, and video without the compression artifacts that commonly plague MMS.
Business Features and Rich Cards
On the business side, Rich Cards can now embed streaming video instead of forcing a full download. Brands gain more control over how links open, with quick actions like viewing a menu staying inside the messaging app, while complex tasks such as payments redirect to a dedicated application.
Delayed Implementation Timeline
However, users should not expect these features on their phones anytime soon. Neither Apple nor Google has announced support for RCS 4.0 yet. Reports indicate that both companies did not respond to requests for comment. There is a precedent for delays, as RCS Universal Profile 3.0, announced in March 2025 with end-to-end encryption support, still has not seen widespread rollout. Apple and Google are only now testing encrypted RCS messaging between their platforms.
A realistic timeline for RCS 4.0 implementation is late 2026 at the earliest, with a more likely timeframe being early 2027.
