MetroPCS Communications has announced commercial launch of Rich Communication Services (RCS) on its 4G LTE network. MetroPCS will offer its RCS services under the GSMA-licensed joyn brand. RCS services is initially available on the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G via joyn application. MetroPCS plans to roll-out additional RCS-enabled 4G LTE smartphones and services later this year and throughout 2013, with native support for joyn services coming at a later date.

Based on the GSMA RCS 5.0 standard, joyn by MetroPCS will deliver an experience beyond voice and basic messaging to provide customers with a unified and intuitive way to use enriched services like integrated instant messaging or chat, WiFi and video calling and simplified content sharing.

joyn offers a simple and personal way to connect with friends and family in real time, by showing how contacts can be reached and which multimedia capabilities in chat, content transfer or video share are available for each contact — all with just one click from the user's address book.

MetroPCS will support the following RCS services at launch for customers with 4G LTE joyn-enabled smartphones:

Contacts Presence - joyn knows and shows how users can reach and share content with contacts at any time

• Contact availability/status sync (online, busy, away, unavailable)
• Calendar sync
• Social network interaction

Enriched Chat - Threaded conversations keep track of who's said what and show which people and groups are available to chat and share content

• Instant messaging and group chat
• Conversational view
• Delivery of read notifications and composing indications

Content Sharing - Bring calls and chats to life by sharing content with just one click from the address book

• Share video, images and files while on a call and within instant messaging or chat
• Display service capabilities
• Geo-location

WiFi and Video Calling - Stay connected with voice and video calls in areas with little or no cellular coverage

• WiFi calling and video calls over WiFi