Vibes launches RCS Studio to empower developers with app-like messaging experiences. Vibes, the mobile-first messaging leader for over 25 years, announced the launch of RCS Studio, a turnkey platform that empowers developers and brands to build, test and deploy rich, app-like experiences over Rich Communication Services (RCS). With RCS Studio, developers can create their first interactive RCS flow for free, and test it on devices in minutes. RCS is the ascendent smartphone messaging format that delivers communication experiences to customers that go far beyond what The Fast Mode is used to with SMS & MMS, with rich image and video visuals, scrolling carousels, one-tap actions and replies, and more. Vibes RCS customers are already seeing 3x engagement and a 30% boost in revenue vs. SMS. RCS Studio is the industry's first full-lifecycle toolset for RCS, built around three core pillars: Agent Provisioning, Management & Compliance; Flow & Experience Building; and Message Routing & Delivery. It streamlines brand verification, agent onboarding, and carrier deployment while offering a visual, no-code environment for creating interactive customer experiences. As one of only a few Tier 1 direct connect aggregators of RCS messaging in the U.S., Vibes is uniquely positioned to deliver this industry-first solution. Built on Vibes' carrier-grade infrastructure and direct carrier connections, RCS Studio combines reliable delivery with a powerful Connector Library that simplifies integration with business APIs and data sources. Developers can link systems such as order management, loyalty, and booking platforms into interactive RCS experiences without custom middleware or telecom expertise. Brian Garofola, Chief Technology Officer at Vibes RCS is bigger than messaging - it combines the reach and immediacy of SMS with the interactivity of mobile apps. RCS Studio helps brands and developers unlock that potential, bringing app-like functionality directly into the native messaging experience. RESEARCH INSIGHTS Advancing Network Management with GenAI The Role of DPI-driven Traffic Intelligence Ray Sharma is an Industry Analyst and Editor at The Fast Mode. He has over 15 years of experience in mobile broadband technologies and solutions, conducting research and analysis on various technology segments and producing articles and write-ups on the latest developments within the sector. He is also in charge of social media engagement and industry liaisons.

There have been some significant milestones so far in the development of the digital wallet. Its early days track back to 2003 with the debut of Alipay in China, with Africa’s M-Pesa following in 2007. In 2011, Google Wallet was introduced, allowing users to store card information and make payments using their phones. Starbucks followed that with its mobile app the same year, adding order-ahead mobile order and pay to it in 2015. More than two decades later, the digital wallet is now hitting its stride. The June 2024 report “Digital Wallets: Beyond The Transaction,” produced with Google Wallet, shows that digital wallets are gaining traction globally, with over 70% of consumers in the surveyed markets (Brazil, France, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S.) using them