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Developer & Marketer Blueprint

Google RCS Rich Cards, Carousels & Action Templates

Master the full spectrum of Google RCS interactive layouts: Standalone rich cards, multi-card horizontal carousels, native device actions (URL, Dial, Location, Calendar), and REST API JSON payloads with automated DLT SMS failover.

Request Live Test Cards View RBM JSON Payload
Interactive Action Palette Native Android Actions

Unlike plain links that force users into slow external browsers, RCS triggers native smartphone hardware functions directly: one-tap phone calls, Google Maps pin drop navigation, and instant calendar event saving.

Message Architecture

Primary Google RCS Card Formats

Choose the right visual structure depending on your marketing objective.

Single Rich Card Standalone Vertical Rich Card

A single full-width card with an eye-catching media header (image or video), high-contrast title, descriptive body text, and up to 4 stacked action buttons.

Media Heights: SHORT (112dp), MEDIUM (168dp), TALL (264dp)
Max Buttons: 4 interactive action chips or URL buttons
Best For: Flash sales, ticket confirmations, policy renewals, appointment reminders.
Multi-Card Carousel Horizontal Scroll Carousel (Up to 10 Cards)

Allows recipients to horizontally swipe through a curated catalog of items. Each individual card has its own custom visual, price, title, and dedicated action buttons.

Card Widths: SMALL (120dp) or MEDIUM (136dp)
Card Capacity: 2 to 10 scrollable cards per message
Best For: eCommerce collections, real estate property listings, vehicle models, course catalogs.
Interactive Actions

The 5 Native Device Actions in Google RCS

Eliminate customer friction with single-tap actions built into Android's core operating system.

1. Open Web URL (Deep-Link)

Opens an external website URL, checkout link, or deep-links directly into your native mobile app (e.g. Swiggy, Zomato, Myntra, banking app).

Action: openUrlAction
2. Dial Phone Number

Instantly pre-fills the customer's native smartphone dialer with your sales helpline, call center, or concierge phone number.

Action: dialAction
3. View Location on Map

Launches Google Maps with your store, clinic, showroom, or event venue coordinates (latitude & longitude) and provides instant turn-by-turn driving directions.

Action: viewLocationAction
4. Create Calendar Event

Adds an appointment, webinar, consultation, or EMI due date directly to the user's Google Calendar with title, start time, end time, and reminder notification.

Action: createCalendarEventAction
5. Suggested Quick Reply

Presents tapable reply chips (e.g. “Interested”, “Schedule Demo”, “Not Right Now”) that send pre-defined text responses without typing.

Action: suggestedReply
Smart DLT SMS Fallback

If the recipient device is offline or incompatible with RCS, NY Digital automatically delivers a pre-approved DLT SMS containing a tracked short-link within 5 seconds.

Automated 100% Reach
API Integration

Google RBM API v1 Standalone Rich Card Payload

See the exact JSON structure sent to the Google RCS Business Messaging API endpoint.

// POST https://rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/{msisdn}/agentMessages
{
  "contentMessage": {
    "richCard": {
      "standaloneCard": {
        "cardOrientation": "VERTICAL",
        "thumbnailImageAlignment": "RIGHT",
        "cardContent": {
          "title": "Exclusive Pre-Launch: Lodha Heights Mumbai",
          "description": "Luxury 2 & 3 BHK sea-view residences starting ₹1.85 Cr*. Avail limited inaugural pricing and zero stamp duty.",
          "media": {
            "height": "MEDIUM",
            "contentInfo": {
              "fileUrl": "https://nydigital.co.in/assets/img/properties/lodha-heights.jpg",
              "forceRefresh": false
            }
          },
          "suggestions": [
            {
              "action": {
                "text": "Call Property Desk",
                "postbackData": "action_call_sales",
                "dialAction": { "phoneNumber": "+918779713123" }
              }
            },
            {
              "action": {
                "text": "View Experience Centre",
                "postbackData": "action_view_map",
                "viewLocationAction": {
                  "latLong": { "latitude": 19.0760, "longitude": 72.8777 },
                  "label": "Lodha Heights Sales Gallery, Mumbai"
                }
              }
            },
            {
              "action": {
                "text": "Download Brochure",
                "postbackData": "action_brochure_pdf",
                "openUrlAction": { "url": "https://nydigital.co.in/downloads/lodha-brochure.pdf" }
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
Technical FAQs

Google RCS Templates FAQ

Do RCS templates require pre-approval like WhatsApp templates? +

In India, telecom operators check commercial templates under DLT regulations. Once your DLT content template is registered and agent is verified, individual rich cards can be dynamically populated via API parameters without waiting for manual per-send approval.

What video formats are supported in Google RCS cards? +

Google RCS supports MP4 and H.264 encoded video files up to 10MB in size. Videos play inline or expand to full-screen upon tapping.

Can we track which specific button a recipient clicked? +

Yes. Every action button includes a developer postbackData string. When the user taps, your webhook receives an immediate callback event containing the exact postback tag, timestamp, and user identifier for precision CRM tracking.

Ready to Build?

Design Custom Interactive RCS Campaigns with NY Digital

Our design and technical team crafts verified rich cards, dynamic carousels, and automated API triggers under our ₹99,999/year managed plan.

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