GSMA releases RCS Universal Profile 4.1 with enhanced privacy and encryption

The GSMA has published the RCS Universal Profile 4.1 specification, the latest update to the Rich Communication Services standard that underpins next‑generation messaging. The release prioritises security, stability and interoperability, adding stronger end‑to‑end encryption and a redesigned messaging and signalling layer to improve reliability across different devices and networks.

The update also introduces more granular privacy controls, allowing users to decide who can see their name and profile picture in individual and group chats, and a connection‑less gRPC‑based transport protocol that reduces data overhead and conserves battery life. While most changes will be invisible to end users, they aim to make RCS messaging more consistent and private across Android, iPhone and other client applications.