Overview
- GSMA released the RCS Universal Profile 4.0 spec, adding Message‑Initiated Video Calls that start a video session from inside a chat across Android and iPhone.
- Group video calls can be joined after they begin, and synchronized call entries appear in the chat thread to keep the conversation history in one place.
- Messages gain formatting options like bold, italics, and strikethrough, and devices can negotiate supported file types to deliver higher‑quality audio, images, and video.
- Business chats can embed streaming video, and users can choose whether links open inside the messaging app or in a dedicated app or browser.
- Rollout is not immediate, with reporting pointing to late 2026 or 2027 because Universal Profile 3.0, which added end‑to‑end encryption in March 2025, is still being adopted and tested.