MetroPCS this week launched Rich Communications Services, a continuation of the carrier’s push to take advantage of its LTE network through services such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE).
MetroPCS was the first U.S. carrier to launch VoLTE when it did so back in August. The company said yesterday that with its introduction of the “Joyn” service it is the first carrier in the world to launch RCS over LTE. The Joyn product is a trademark of the GSMA, and other global operators utilizing the service include Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Germany and Vodafone Spain.
The operators said that the Joyn product will make the user experience more seamless by cutting out multiple log-ins and adding more awareness of a user’s contacts for easier content sharing and social networking.
RCS is available as part MetroPCS’ LTE rate plans and RCS-enabled smartphones – which for now includes one device, the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G. Users must download the Joyn application in order to use the service, although MetroPCS added that it expects native support for Joyn services to come at a later date.
The RCS suite is generally expected to include advancements such as longer text messages, the ability to send photos via MMS at full resolution and group video sharing.
In this case, MetroPCS is offering such features as:
- Contacts presence, showing the availability and status of how contacts can be reached to share content.
- Enriched chat with threaded conversations, instant messaging and group chat and delivery of “read” notifications.
- Content sharing via address book with one click; sharing video, images and files while on a call or within IM or chat.
- Wi-Fi calling and video calls over Wi-Fi.
“We believe RCS is a tremendous differentiator among prepaid and postpaid competitors alike and recognizing that achieving interoperability across U.S. 4G LTE networks is the next key step to paving the way for more innovative services and capabilities in the future,” said Roger Linquist, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS.
