Twilio RCS Quick Start

Connect your Twilio RCS Sender to respond.io to send and receive RCS messages alongside your other Channels. RCS (Rich Communication Services) lets you message Contacts through a supported messaging app, using a verified sender profile and rich media.

Before you begin

You'll need:

• An active, paid Twilio account

• A Twilio RCS Sender that's approved and launched with at least one carrier. Learn how to create a Twilio RCS Sender.

RCS availability depends on the recipient's country, carrier and device. Your RCS Sender must also be approved for the destination you want to reach. Check RCS availability.

Twilio bills you directly for RCS messages.

How to set up an RCS Sender in Twilio

Before you connect Twilio RCS to respond.io, create an RCS Sender in Twilio and get it approved. Here's an overview of the process. For full instructions, see Twilio's RCS onboarding guide.

1. Create the Sender: In the Twilio Console, go to Communications > Numbers & senders > Overview > RCS > click Create RCS Sender.
   

   

2. Add your brand details: Contacts see these in their messaging app. Twilio requires a display name, description, logo, banner image, accent color, contact details, and links to your privacy policy and terms of service.
   

   

3. Test with your own devices (optional): Add your phone numbers as test devices in the Twilio Console. Test devices can receive messages from your Sender before it's approved.
   

   

4. Submit the Sender for approval: Select the countries you want to reach and provide your business details, use case, and how Contacts opt in and out.

   1. Every RCS Sender requires Google registration, regardless of which countries it will message. See Google registration requirements.

   2. US-bound Senders need an additional US registration on top of Google registration. See US registration requirements.
      

      

5. Wait for carrier approval: Carriers review your Sender, and approval is given per carrier and country. Twilio estimates four to six weeks, or longer if you're launching in multiple regions.

You can connect the Sender to respond.io once at least one carrier approves it. Until then, it won't appear in the RCS Sender dropdown.

How to connect Twilio RCS to respond.io

1. Navigate to Workspace Settings > Channels > click Add Channel.
   

   

2. Select the RCS tab > locate the Twilio RCS Channel > click Connect.
   

   

3. Sign in to the Twilio Console.
   

   

4. Find the Account SID on the Twilio Console dashboard and add it to the Account SID field.
   

   

5. Find the Auth Token on the Twilio Console dashboard and add it to the Auth Token field.
   

   

6. Select the RCS Sender you want to connect from the RCS Sender dropdown.
   

   

7. Click Complete. Respond.io sets up the webhook for your RCS Sender automatically.

The RCS Sender dropdown becomes available after you enter valid credentials. Only Senders that are approved and launched with at least one carrier are listed.

Once connected, use an RCS-capable device on a supported carrier to scan the QR code or open the chat link on the success screen. Send a message and check that it arrives in the Inbox.

How to configure the Twilio RCS Channel

1. Navigate to Workspace Settings > click Channels.

2. Locate the Twilio RCS Channel > click Manage > Configuration.
   

   

3. You can:

   1. Copy the Chat Link, or click Generate QR code to share with Contacts.

   2. Edit the Channel Name, which is used internally to identify the Channel.

   3. View the connected Account SID, Auth Token and RCS Sender. These fields are read-only.

4. After editing the Channel Name, click Save Changes.

How to setup fallback for Twilio RCS Channel

If a message can’t be delivered over RCS, Twilio can send it as SMS or MMS instead. Set this up in Twilio by adding an SMS-capable number to the same Messaging Service as your RCS Sender.

Before you start: make sure your RCS Sender has been approved by at least one carrier.

1. Open the Messaging Service: In the Twilio Console, go to Messaging > Services > select the Messaging Service your RCS Sender is assigned to.
   

   

2. Add an SMS-capable number: In the Sender Pool, click Add Sender > select an SMS- or MMS-capable phone number.
   

   

Messages are now sent over RCS first. If RCS delivery fails, Twilio sends them as SMS or MMS from that number.