Kudosity has opened support for RCS agent registration, configuration and testing for Australian businesses as local mobile networks prepare broader availability of the rich messaging standard.
Businesses can now register their interest to understand RCS agent requirements, assess potential use cases and receive guidance on setting up branded messaging. Eligible organisations can also configure agents and test supported RCS functions in a controlled environment.
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a messaging format that adds branded sender profiles, rich media, interactive buttons, suggested replies, read receipts and two-way conversations to mobile messaging. It is designed to work within compatible native messaging apps rather than requiring a separate consumer download.
The rollout in Australia follows Telstra's announcement that it plans to introduce RCS messaging for mobile customers by the end of this year. Wider commercial use for business messaging in Australia remains subject to brand verification, carrier approvals and network availability.
Kudosity already supports RCS in overseas markets including the United States, the United Kingdom and some European countries. That gives Australian clients a way to explore the format in markets where commercial business messaging on RCS is already available.
Early preparation
Kudosity is positioning the offer as a preparatory step rather than a full commercial launch in Australia. Agent registration and testing do not guarantee commercial activation locally.
Unlike SMS, business use of RCS requires extra setup, including identity verification, agent configuration and defining the intended messaging use case. Businesses are also expected to prepare branded messaging experiences before operating at scale.
Alex Macpherson, Chief Executive Officer of Kudosity, said the company's overseas work had shaped its approach for the Australian market. “RCS is already changing how businesses communicate with customers in markets around the world, creating opportunities for more trusted, interactive and personalised experiences,” Macpherson said.
“With RCS capabilities already available through Kudosity internationally, we're focused on helping Australian businesses prepare for what's next. Getting ready involves more than switching on a new channel. Businesses need to consider their brand identity, customer experience and how they'll use the technology. We're helping them take those first steps now.”
Existing workflows
Businesses do not need to replace current messaging channels to begin using RCS. Kudosity offers RCS alongside SMS, MMS and WhatsApp, with integration through its API into existing systems.
An SMS fallback option can also be used when RCS is not supported on a device or network. That is intended to maintain message delivery while businesses test richer formats and branded profiles.
This is particularly relevant for businesses that rely on messaging for appointment reminders, delivery notifications, customer support and marketing campaigns. In those settings, reliability remains essential even as businesses add richer visuals and interactive features.
One existing user cited in the announcement was Simple Salon, which has used the service for customer communications. Jason Edward, Founder and Director of Simple Salon, said, “Introducing RCS has been a straightforward process with the support of the Kudosity team. It has let us give our salons richer appointment reminders and confirmations, while SMS fallback means every client still gets the message.”
Market development
The Australian market for business messaging has been dominated by SMS, with WhatsApp and other app-based channels used in selected cases. RCS has been discussed for several years as a successor because it allows verified branding and richer interaction within the default messaging environment on supported phones.
For service providers such as Kudosity, the shift creates a new onboarding process that sits between telecoms provisioning and digital brand management. Businesses need to verify identity, define how messages will be used and ensure content meets network and carrier requirements.
Kudosity's role is to help organisations understand those steps before networks make broader local activation available. Businesses can use the preparation period to test supported functions, develop use cases and learn how branded business messaging will fit within existing customer communication systems.
For companies with customers overseas, the group said its established RCS access in the US, UK and some European markets may offer a nearer-term route for live deployments, subject to local registration and approval rules.
Commercial messaging in Australia remains subject to applicable brand verification, carrier approvals and network availability.