Seattle-based software company Zipwhip has partnered with the Sacramento Kings to launch an RCS-enabeled communication channel through the Kings’ existing business toll number. The deal makes the Kings the first professional sports team in the world to offer Rich Communication Services messaging.
RCS technology offers a more secure and interactive mobile platform for businesses to communicate via two-way text message with customers. It is perceived as the next upgrade in the evolution from SMS and MMS messages. The system incorporates a lot of the features that users might be familiar with in apps like Facebook Messenger into phone text messages, such as read receipts, location sharing, and the ability to see if another person is typing a reply.
Fans can engage over RCS with the Kings by texting their toll-free phone line at 833-91KINGS. As part of Zipwhip’s participation in Google’s Early Access Program for RCS business messaging, the service is initially only available to Android users on the Sprint Network.
“RCS stands to upgrade today’s business messaging experience by powering communications that are more interactive and engaging than ever before,” said Todd Parker, Google’s Head of Business Development, Carrier Messaging, in an official press release. “We are pleased to have Zipwhip working in conjunction with the Sacramento Kings to provide new ways for fans to get timely, useful information about games via RCS.”
SportTechie Takeaway
The GSMA predicts 86 percent of smartphones will be RCS-enabled by 2020. While most RCS usage to date has been in Europe, 430 million worldwide monthly active users are expected to engage with RCS this year before growing to 2.76 billion in 2019. Zipwhip’s partnership with the Kings could be a catalyst for more businesses in North America to transition to RCS messaging.