Before your RCS service can deliver messages to real recipients, it goes through verification, configuration, and approval by Google as well as the selected network operators. This article walks you through every step.
On the RCS service page, you will find the menu item Launch service on the left. Start the service from there. Once it has been created, the Add additional network operators button also appears.
Auf einen Blick
- Verification of the company by Google (1-3 business days).
- Define the service behavior and provide the preview (video, screenshots).
- Select the network operators.
- For German carriers (Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, O2, 1&1) and Austrian carriers, additionally fill in the brand approval form (DE or AT) and upload it as a supporting document in the verification step - review takes several weeks.
- Request launch - wait for carrier approval.
1. Verification
Google verifies that the requesting company is actually the owner of the brand specified. You may receive an email asking for confirmation at an address on your company domain. Free email addresses will be rejected.
Optionally, you can upload supporting documents such as an authorization letter in this step (PDF, max. 50 MB, up to 5 documents per service) to speed up the review. The documents apply to the whole service, are visible to all selected network operators, and can only be changed until the launch request is submitted.
2. Define service behavior
The form defines how your service interacts with users:
| Field | Content |
|---|---|
| Opt-in procedure | How do users give their consent? (Registration, offline source, double opt-in) |
| Triggering actions | Which user actions lead to a message? (Purchase, support request, appointment) |
| Service interactions | Which dialogs does the service support? (Transaction, offer, support) |
| Opt-out procedure | How do users stop receiving messages? (e.g. send STOP) |
These statements are binding. If you later send messages that do not match the described behavior, you risk having your service blocked.
3. Preview for network operators
Before granting approval, the carriers want to see what recipients will experience:
- Test access: Description of how the carriers can test the service (test website, sandbox, adding a test number).
- Video URL: short video (30-60 s) from the recipient perspective, including the opt-out flow.
- Screenshots: welcome message, typical dialog, opt-out confirmation.
4. Select network operators
Select the carriers you want your service to be deliverable through. If a desired network operator is missing, contact seven support.
Hinweis
German and Austrian network operators: brand approval form required
For approval at the German carriers Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica/O2, and 1&1 as well as at the Austrian network operators, the carriers also require a completed brand approval form. Without this document, your RCS service will not go live in Germany or Austria.
- Form for Germany: RBM DE Brand Approval (PDF)
- Form for Austria: RBM AT Brand Approval (PDF)
- Fill in completely and, before requesting launch, upload it as a supporting document in the verification step (PDF, max. 50 MB, up to 5 documents per service).
- Uploaded documents apply to the whole service and are visible to all selected network operators - uploading for individual carriers is not possible.
- Once the launch request has been submitted, documents can no longer be added or removed.
- Review runs independently of the Google verification process and may take several weeks.
5. Request launch
Once all steps are complete, click Launch RCS service. The request is sent to the selected network operators for review. Incomplete requests are rejected and must be resubmitted from scratch.
6. Status and updates
You can see the current state at any time in the RCS service window under Launch service. You will also receive status changes by email.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Request is with the carrier for review |
| Approved | Carrier has approved, sending is possible |
| Rejected | Carrier has rejected - usually without giving a reason; seven cannot appeal the decision |
| Live | Service is finally active at the carrier |
The statuses apply per network operator: each selected carrier reviews your service separately and grants or refuses approval individually. A service can already be approved by one carrier while it is still under review or rejected by another.
The overall status of the service (e.g. "launched") refers to the service as a whole and does not mean that every operator has approved it. A rejection notice from a single carrier is therefore not a contradiction: the service is live with the approved operators, while sending to recipients in the rejected network is not possible.
Operators usually reject without giving a reason. seven has no influence on this decision and cannot appeal it. If a carrier has rejected your service, contact seven support - we will check with you whether a new request makes sense.