Last updated: October 2026. Written by Ian Jacob, founder of Search & Be Found (HubSpot Platinum Partner) and co-host of the HubShots podcast.
Quick answer: Yes, RCS is coming to Australia, and you'll be able to send it from HubSpot. Telstra starts rolling out RCS to Android customers from 16 November 2026, with iPhones following after Apple's December iOS update. Sinch, the SMS integration many HubSpot users already run, expects to switch on RCS business messaging via Telstra in December, so you can send branded, interactive messages from the same HubSpot workflows you use for SMS today.
I first asked Sinch about RCS in 2024. When they offered me their SMS demo video to share on HubShots, my answer was "let's wait for RCS." Two years later, the wait is nearly over. This guide covers what RCS is, how it works in HubSpot, and what to do before December.
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the GSMA's standard for next-generation text messaging, the successor to SMS and MMS. It works inside the phone's built-in messaging app, so customers don't download anything.
RCS for Business adds three things SMS can't do:
RCS needs both the device and the mobile carrier to support it. If either doesn't, Telstra confirms the message is sent as SMS or MMS instead.
SMS reaches everyone, MMS adds a picture, and RCS turns the text into a branded, interactive experience. The trade-off is reach: in Australia, RCS starts on Telstra only.
| Feature | SMS | MMS | RCS for Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sender shown as | Number or alphanumeric ID | Number or alphanumeric ID | Verified brand profile with logo and colours |
| Content | 160 characters of text | Text plus an image or short video | Text, high-res images, video, carousels |
| Buttons and quick replies | No | No | Yes |
| Read receipts | No | No | Yes |
| App needed | No | No | No (native messaging app) |
| Australian reach (late 2026) | Every mobile | Every mobile | Telstra and its MVNOs first, SMS/MMS fallback for the rest |
| Sent from HubSpot via Sinch | Yes | Yes | Yes, in workflows |
Sinch cites a 98% SMS read rate and reports 3 to 7 times higher engagement and 2.5 times higher conversion for RCS among its US and EU customers. Treat those as vendor benchmarks to test against, not guarantees.
Telstra is the first Australian carrier to launch RCS, starting 16 November 2026. According to WhistleOut, Android customers get it first, iPhone customers follow after Apple's December iOS release, and the rollout covers Telstra-network MVNOs such as Belong, ALDI Mobile and Everyday Mobile. Telstra expects to finish by the end of 2026.
Optus and Vodafone haven't announced dates, so their customers will receive SMS or MMS for now.
RCS is sent from HubSpot workflows through the Sinch SMS, MMS, WhatsApp & RCS app on the HubSpot Marketplace. Sinch was the first integration to enable RCS sending in HubSpot, launched for US and EU customers at INBOUND 2025.
One practical gotcha: design every RCS message so the SMS fallback still makes sense on its own. At launch, a large share of your audience will see that version.
The best first uses are messages customers already expect and act on: reminders, quotes and status updates. Here's where we'd start for the industries we work with.
| Industry | RCS use case | HubSpot trigger | Button or action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction and trades | Quote follow-up showing the product, finish or job photos | Deal enters "Quote sent" | View quote, Book a call |
| Built environment and building products | Order and delivery updates with product images | Deal or order stage change | Track delivery, Contact rep |
| Healthcare and wellness | Appointment reminder from a verified clinic profile | Meeting booked, 24 hours before | Confirm, Reschedule |
| Professional services | Onboarding steps and document requests | Deal closed won | Upload documents, Book kick-off |
| Automotive and industrial | Service due reminder with vehicle or equipment details | Date property (next service due) | Book service, Call workshop |
The common thread: each replaces "reply Y to confirm" or a bare link with something the customer can act on in one tap. And because the sender is verified, it helps cut through the scam-text fatigue that makes Australians ignore messages from unknown numbers.
Don't build new processes for RCS. Upgrade the SMS workflows you already run.
Yes, from late 2026. Telstra begins rolling out RCS to compatible Android devices from 16 November 2026, with iPhones following after Apple's December iOS update. Telstra expects the rollout to be complete by the end of 2026.
On Telstra, yes, once you install the December iOS update. Optus and Vodafone have not announced dates, so their iPhone customers will receive SMS or MMS instead.
Telstra is the first Australian carrier to announce RCS, including Telstra-network MVNOs such as Belong, ALDI Mobile and Everyday Mobile. Messages to Optus and Vodafone customers fall back to SMS or MMS.
Yes, through the Sinch SMS, MMS, WhatsApp & RCS app on the HubSpot Marketplace. RCS messages are sent from HubSpot workflows, with templates built in the Sinch Engage platform.
Sinch can automatically fall back to MMS or SMS, so the message still arrives, just without the rich formatting.
No. RCS is a carrier standard that works in the phone's built-in messaging app, with no separate app or account. WhatsApp requires the app, and iMessage works only between Apple devices.
With Sinch, yes. Opt-outs apply across both SMS and RCS, so you manage compliance in one place.
Pricing depends on your messaging provider and plan. Check with Sinch, as RCS business messaging rates in Australia had not been widely published at the time of writing.
RCS won't replace SMS in Australia overnight. With Telstra first and Optus and Vodafone yet to commit, SMS stays the backbone for now. But for HubSpot users already sending SMS through Sinch, RCS is a low-risk upgrade: same workflows, better experience for Telstra customers, and the SMS fallback for everyone else.
Start with one workflow, measure it properly, and expand from there.
At Search & Be Found, we've helped businesses grow with HubSpot since 2013. Speak to a specialist and we'll review your current SMS workflows and work out which should move to RCS first.