RCS Useful in Emergencies (911)

Imagine you’re hiding in a closet during a break-in. You can’t speak. You need help. You pull out your phone and text 911.

Except you can’t — because your local 911 center doesn’t support text messaging. As of early 2024, only 53% of US Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) can receive texts at all. Nearly half the country has no text-to-911 capability. And the half that does? They’re stuck with SMS, a protocol designed in the 1990s that can’t send photos, confirm delivery, or share your precise location.