After years of “we’re working on it”, it’s finally happening. Telstra’s RCS rollout begins on 16 November 2026, starting with Android customers. iPhone support is expected to follow after Apple’s December software update, with the rollout scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
If you’ve read my piece on RCS vs SMS vs MMS, you’ll know I’ve been waiting for this one. So what does it actually mean for businesses? Let’s break it down.
What is Telstra switching on?
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the modern upgrade to SMS and MMS. It sends messages over mobile data or Wi-Fi, which unlocks things like high-resolution photos and videos, typing indicators, read receipts and group chats that actually work between iPhone and Android.
Telstra is turning it on by default across its consumer, small business and enterprise mobile services, so there’s no plan change or add-on needed. iPhone users will need iOS 27 or later. You can read the details on Telstra’s RCS page.
Android users aren’t starting from scratch, either. Google has been delivering RCS between Android phones in Australia through its own servers for a while. The big change is the iPhone, and with it every mixed iPhone and Android chat in the country.
What about Optus and Vodafone?
At the time of writing, neither has announced dates. Optus has described RCS as something it’s considering for its longer-term roadmap, and TPG Telecom, which runs Vodafone, says it’s reviewing it.
That matters more than it might sound. RCS works best when both people have it. If a Telstra iPhone user messages someone on a network that hasn’t switched it on, the conversation is likely to fall back to plain SMS and MMS. So for now, RCS will only work end to end between some customers, on some networks.
How do you send an RCS message instead of SMS?
You don’t switch it manually. RCS kicks in automatically when both phones support it. You type your message as normal, and your messaging app decides whether it goes as RCS or SMS. If the other person can’t receive RCS, or there’s no data or Wi-Fi connection, it quietly falls back to SMS.
What you can do is make sure RCS is turned on. Setting names can vary a little by phone and software version, but generally:
- Android (Google Messages): tap your profile picture, then Messages settings, then RCS chats, and make sure it’s on. When a conversation is using RCS, the text box usually says “RCS message”.
- iPhone: go to Settings, then Apps, then Messages, and turn on RCS Messaging. For Telstra customers, it starts working after Apple’s December update, on iOS 27 or later.
Once the rollout reaches your phone, it’s worth checking that setting is still on, particularly if you’ve fiddled with it in the past.
Can businesses send RCS messages now?
Not because of this announcement. Telstra’s rollout is about person-to-person messaging, and it doesn’t mention RCS business messaging.
Business RCS, the kind with a verified brand name, logo and buttons, is a different thing. It needs a provider that supports RCS business messaging and a verified sender profile, so it isn’t something you can toggle on for an SMS campaign. It’s still in its early days in Australia, and it’s not something Prodocom offers just yet. We’re watching it very closely, though.
So what should businesses do now?
Honestly? Keep doing what works. For appointment reminders, alerts and anything that has to reach everyone, SMS is still the only channel that works on every mobile in the country, whatever the phone or network.
A few things are worth doing in the meantime:
- Keep SMS as your backbone. It’s the fallback RCS itself relies on.
- Make every SMS count. Clear, short and useful still wins. Here’s how to go about writing SMS that gets a response.
- Think about where richer messages would genuinely help. Not every message needs a picture or a button. I’ve covered how to choose the right business communication channel if you’re weighing it up.
When business RCS arrives properly in Australia, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, if you want to talk through your messaging, give us a call. We actually enjoy it.