(Yicai Global) Nov. 20 -- As China’s major telecoms operators prepare to launch fifth-generation messaging services soon, the country’s handset makers have wrapped up 5G messaging tests and only need to upgrade system software to support the new service.

Realme will “push notifications about 5G messaging on our software in the near future,” said a manager at the Shenzhen-based phone manufacturer, one of several companies Yicai Global contacted.

5G messages, or Rich Communication Services messages, include ‘RCS enhanced SMS’ for end users and ‘RCS commercial rich media messages’ for businesses. 5G services can enable users to apply rich internet apps on the SMS interface, support the sending of multiple media formats, and get functionality comparable with WeChat, China’s most popular social media platform.

Customized 5G devices of China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, the country’s three main carriers, already have 5G messaging ability. Mainstream brands of Android smartphones, including Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, are all technically ready for 5G messages, Yicai Global learned from manufacturers.

On the other hand, though progress in building the 5G messaging platforms of the three major telecoms operators is uneven, according to industry estimates, they can complete commercial introduction by the end of this year at the latest.

China Mobile has said that its 5G messaging service has started trial use in 15 provinces. Wang Qingyang, director of the Mobile Communication Research Institute under Guangzhou Research Institute of China Telecom, said the market may exceed USD150 billion next year after traditional text messages are upgraded to 5G.

Regarding the business prospects for 5G messages, Fu Liang, a telecoms industry expert, pointed out that such messages should focus on consumer services and not be clogged up with advertising before they are officially launched.

Editor: Tang Shihua, Peter Thomas