Verified SMS
Verified sender identity, in its 2026 form
Verified SMS was the right idea: prove to customers that the business texting them is really that business. The program itself (run by Google) was retired — and its best ideas graduated into RCS Business Messaging, where verification, branding, and rich features are now built in.
What changed
From Verified SMS to verified everything
Google's Verified SMS program overlaid brand names, logos, and a verification badge onto SMS conversations. Google discontinued the program in late 2023 — but the demand for verified sender identity only grew. That job now belongs to RCS Business Messaging, where every business sender is a verified agent by design:
- Built-in branding — your business name and logo appear in the conversation, not a bare 10-digit number.
- Verification badge — customers see the sender is authenticated before they read a word.
- Richer than SMS ever was — high-resolution media, suggested replies, read receipts, and interactive cards, inside the phone's native messaging app.
- Reach across both platforms — with Android support long established and Apple adding RCS starting in iOS 18, verified branded messaging now reaches the large majority of U.S. smartphones.
Verified messaging FAQ
What happened to Google Verified SMS?
Google discontinued the Verified SMS program in late 2023. Its ideas — sender identity, brand name and logo, a verification badge — didn't disappear; they became core features of RCS Business Messaging, which every major U.S. carrier now supports.
How do I get verified sender branding today?
Through RCS Business Messaging. Every RCS business sender is a verified agent, so your brand name, logo, and verification badge appear in the customer's native messaging app — no third-party add-on required.
What about plain SMS — can it be branded?
SMS itself displays only your number, which is why registration hygiene matters: a registered 10DLC campaign or verified toll-free number keeps your SMS trusted and delivered. For visible branding in the thread, RCS is the channel; Tychron runs both together with automatic SMS fallback.
Is there a verified option for calls too?
Yes — Verified Calling displays your business name, logo, and reason for calling before the customer picks up. Pairing verified calls with verified messaging gives customers one consistent, trustworthy brand experience.
Ready for verified, branded messaging?
Get your brand verified on RCS with registered SMS fallback — one network, one compliance posture, every customer reached.