RCS will get better voice messages in latest Universal Profile 3.1 update
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RCS will get better voice messages in latest Universal Profile 3.1 update
The GSMA has announced the release of Universal Profile 3.1. The update adds support for the xHE-AAC audio codec. This means that voice messages, shared audio clips, and more will sound better through RCS. Other improvements include better spam reporting, improved file transfer security, and “the use of deep links to initiate a conversation”
Announced today by the GSMA, Universal Profile 3.1 delivers a handful of changes to RCS, but with two key standouts. The first is “new mechanisms for connecting RCS clients to operator services.” Specifically, RCS clients will enhance the new user onboarding process to “[ensure] a more seamless and reliable user experience.” We’ll have to wait and see how this is actually reflected in the future.
More impactful to users, though, is Universal Profile 3.1’s improved support for audio, with the update now supporting the xHE-AAC audio codec. This allows for higher audio quality after decompression, meaning that voice messages, shared audio clips, and more will sound better through RCS.
The GSMA explains:
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The release introduces support for the xHE-AAC audio codec, enabling highly efficient compression and decompression of shared audio content, which significantly enhances the quality both for speech and non-speech use cases. Whether users are sending voice notes, ambient sound clips, or have audio-based chatbot interactions, they can now expect clearer, more natural playback.
Other improvements include better spam reporting, improved file transfer security, and “the use of deep links to initiate a conversation.”
We’ll start to see these changes in the future as RCS apps, such as Google Messages, adopt the latest standard update.
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New RCS version brings upgraded voice notes and better connectivity
RCS Universal Profile 3.1 offers upgraded audio messaging capabilities. The new release supports the xHE-AAC audio codec. This enables high-quality voice notes and other audio clips. It also offers reliable connectivity in areas with poor network coverage. This new release comes months after the GSMA announced Universal profile 3.0. It’s reported in May that RCS hit 1 billion messages a day, thanks to Apple bringing RCS support in iOS 18.
RCS Universal Profile 3.1 offers upgraded audio messaging capabilities
The new Universal Profile 3.1 supports the xHE-AAC audio codec. This enables high-quality voice notes and other audio clips. The previous RCS release also supported the xHE-AAC codec, but GSMA mentioned that the initial release only supported decoding, while the latest Universal Profile 3.1 also supports encoding. This, in simpler terms, means that you can now send and receive higher-quality audio clips instead of only receiving them.
More resilient to network changes
In addition to upgraded voice notes, the new Universal Profile 3.1 release is also said to improve general connectivity. In response to a question from Android Authority, the GSMA clarified that up until now, RCS clients required a permanently active connection to the RCS network. With the new release, it would be “possible to take that down, trigger the network to send a push notification when it has something to send to the client.”
Clients would not have to update the network whenever their connectivity changes. This means RCS will act more like instant messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp.
This new release comes months after the GSMA announced Universal Profile 3.0. We’ve seen various RCS-related improvements in Google Messages this year. Some of which include labels for contacts with RCS, a delete for everyone option, notification snoozing, and the ability to message yourself. There’s also evidence to suggest RCS messaging may soon gain Google Gemini integration. It’s reported in May that RCS hit 1 billion messages a day, thanks to Apple bringing RCS support in iOS 18.
Source: https://9to5google.com/2025/07/25/rcs-voice-message-universal-profile-3-1-update/