Sluggish progress predicted for operator-led 'rich communications' platform
RCS or Rich Communications Suite is an operator backed tech that enables handset makers and service providers to use network assets to deliver email, messaging, IM and address book services that connect with each other.
But as with so many of these big ideas, RCS has stalled at the implementation stage.
It's been talked about for years, but as of January 2012, there are still no commercially available formal RCS or RCS-e services, although Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone have announced plans to launch RCS-e in the first half of 2012 in Spain.
This is why Infonetics Research says that there will be just 15 million RCS, RCS-e, and RCS-like service subscribers by 2013, with the majority in Asia and Western Europe.
It says the RCS market is splintering as follows:
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* In the US, the focus is on interoperable enriched messaging, presence, and enhanced address book capabilities in voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) launches
* In Europe, it's all about RCS-e, which includes rich calling (such as live video sharing), instant messaging, and file transferring features, but without presence
* Some service providers are pursuing sole-source RCS-like services
"A year ago we declared that RCS had been relegated to niche status, and our viewpoint has not changed," said Diane Myers, directing analyst for VoIP and IMS at Infonetics Research.
Major handset manufacturers including HTC, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson are developing a limited suite of RCS-e compliant handsets. Although Apple has shown no interest or commitment to RCS to date, there is a growing number of third-party vendors offering downloadable RCS clients for the iPhone, as well as for Android devices
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