Send messages

RBM agents communicate with users by sending and receiving messages. To send messages to users, your agent sends message requests to the RCS Business Messaging API. A single request can include text, a rich card, an image, or a video as well as suggested replies and suggested actions.

If you send a message to a user whose device doesn't support RCS or doesn't have RCS enabled, the RBM platform returns a 404 error. In this case, you can attempt to reach the user through the fallback methods defined in your infrastructure.

If you send a message to an RCS user on a network where your agent isn't launched yet, or on a network that hasn't enabled RCS traffic, the RBM platform returns a 403 error.

If you send a message with features that a user's device doesn't support, the RBM platform returns an error and doesn't deliver your message.

As part of your multi-channel messaging strategy, it's best to revoke messages that aren't delivered after a reasonable time and send them through a different channel. To revoke messages automatically at a predefined time, set a message expiration.

Recipient is offline

The RBM platform still accepts a message for delivery if the recipient is offline. You receive a 200 OK response, and the RBM platform holds the message and attempts redelivery for 30 days. There's no need to ask RBM to send the message again.

RBM deletes any undelivered messages 30 days after they were submitted.

Depending on your agent's use case, you might want to revoke an undelivered message before this 30-day timeout. Revocation can prevent offline users from receiving an outdated message when they come back online. There are multiple ways to revoke a message:

• Send a revocation request to trigger the revocation.
• Set a message expiration to automatically revoke the message at the appropriate time.

Set a message expiration

Is your agent's message time sensitive? For example, OTPs are only valid for a brief period. Limited-time offers expire. And appointment reminders aren't relevant after the appointment date. To help ensure timely and relevant messages, set a message expiration. This can prevent offline users from receiving stale content when they come back online. Expiration is also a good cue to invoke your fallback messaging strategy so users get the info they need on time.

To set a message expiration, specify one of the following fields in the agent message:

• expireTime: the exact time in UTC when the message expires.
• ttl(time to live): the amount of time before the message expires.

For formatting and value options, see AgentMessage.

Once the message expires, the RBM platform stops trying to deliver the message, and it's automatically revoked. However, this could fail on rare occasions. For example, the API could trigger the revocation while the RBM platform was in the process of delivering the message. To confirm whether or not the expired message was successfully revoked, RBM will send a notification event to your webhook.

The maximum value for ttl and expireTime is 15 days after message submission.

Message size limits

The maximum size of the entire stringified AgentMessage is 250 KB. Rich cards and other media contribute to this size limit. The text portion of the message has its own limit of 3072 characters.

The maximum size of a file that can be sent through RBM is 100MB. A single RBM message can have only one PDF or media file attached. Refer to Media and PDF files for more information.

Text

The simplest messages are made of text. Text messages are best suited to communicate information without the need for visuals, complex interaction, or response.

Example

The following code sends a plain text message. For formatting and value options, see phones.agentMessages.create.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!'
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
};

// Send a simple message to the device
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Send simple text message to user
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]"
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create a simple RBM text message
message_text = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')

# Send text message to the device
messages.MessageCluster().append_message(message_text).send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                             projectId);

rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
    "Hello, world!",
    "[phone]",
);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Basic Message content - conversion of SMS

Carriers have introduced billing models to support the move of SMS messages to RBM. An RBM message containing up to 160 UTF-8 characters is called a Basic Message.

When constructing a request to send a Basic Message, remember that characters are counted as 1 byte (UTF-8). If you send a message containing special characters such as emoji or a multi-byte character set, each character counts as 2 UTF-8 characters.

Enter some text in the box to check its length:

One-time passwords for user verification

You can use RBM to send one-time passwords (OTPs) for automatic user verification with the SMS Retriever API. To learn more about the SMS Retriever and related APIs, see the SMS Retriever documentation. For details about automatic user verification in apps that have registered with the SMS Retriever API, see this flow diagram.

During the verification process, the SMS Retriever API listens for an RBM message. This message must contain an OTP and a hash that identifies the app. After the hash is matched with the app, the OTP is extracted and forwarded to the app for automatic user verification.

Here's a sample RBM text message for user verification: Your code is <OTP> <app hash>.

For example, Your code is 123456 M8tue43FGT.

Tip: Remember to set a message expiration for OTPs and other time-sensitive messages.

Media and PDF files

When you send a message with an image, video, audio, or PDF file, your agent must provide a publicly accessible URL for the content or directly upload the file. For media files, you can also specify a thumbnail image that lets users preview the content before clicking on it. For audio files, the default audio widget is used as a placeholder.

The RBM platform caches files for 60 days, and the API returns a file ID that your agent can include in messages to users. After 60 days, RBM removes files from the cache.

When specifying files by URL, it's best practice to set contentMessage.forceRefresh to false. Setting contentMessage.forceRefresh to true forces RBM to fetch new content from the specified URL, even if the URL content is cached, which increases message delivery times for users.

See the best practices for file size recommendations and limits.

File URL example

The following code sends an image. For formatting and value options, see AgentContentMessage.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'contentInfo': {
      'fileUrl': 'http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif',
      'forceRefresh': 'false'
    }
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

let params = {
   fileUrl: 'http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
};

// Send an image/video to a device
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.AgentContentMessage;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.AgentMessage;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   String fileUrl = "http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif";

   // create media only message
   AgentContentMessage agentContentMessage = new AgentContentMessage();
   agentContentMessage.setContentInfo(new ContentInfo().setFileUrl(fileUrl));

   // attach content to message
   AgentMessage agentMessage = new AgentMessage();
   agentMessage.setContentMessage(agentContentMessage);

   rbmApiHelper.sendAgentMessage(agentMessage, "[phone]");
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create media file attachment
file_message = messages.FileMessage('http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif')

messages.MessageCluster().append_message(file_message).send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                                 projectId);

string fileUrl = "http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif";

// Create content info with the file url
ContentInfo contentInfo = new ContentInfo
{
    FileUrl = fileUrl
};

// Attach content info to a message
AgentContentMessage agentContentMessage = new AgentContentMessage
{
    ContentInfo = contentInfo,
};

// Attach content to message
AgentMessage agentMessage = new AgentMessage
{
    ContentMessage = agentContentMessage
};

rbmApiHelper.SendAgentMessage(agentMessage, "[phone]");

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Alternatively, you can upload media prior to sending it in a message with files.create.

File upload example

The following code uploads a video file and a thumbnail file, then it sends both files in a message. For formatting and value options, see files.create and AgentContentMessage.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/upload/v1/files?agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: video/mp4" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
--upload-file "FULL_PATH_TO_VIDEO_MEDIA_FILE"

# Capture server-specified video file name from response body JSON


curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/upload/v1/files?agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: image/jpeg" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
--upload-file "FULL_PATH_TO_THUMBNAIL_MEDIA_FILE"

# Capture server-specified image file name from response body JSON


curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'uploadedRbmFile': {
      'fileName': 'SERVER-SPECIFIED_VIDEO_FILE_NAME',
        'thumbnailName': 'SERVER-SPECIFIED_THUMBNAIL_FILE_NAME'
   }
  }
}"

Supported media types

RBM supports the following media types:

Media type	Document type	Extension	Works with rich cards
application/ogg	OGG audio	.ogx	No
application/pdf	PDF	.pdf	No
audio/aac	AAC audio	.aac	No
audio/mp3	MP3 audio	.mp3	No
audio/mpeg	MPEG audio	.mpeg	No
audio/mpg	MPG audio	.mp3	No
audio/mp4	MP4 audio	.mp4	No
audio/mp4-latm	MP4-latm audio	.mp4	No
audio/3gpp	3GPP audio	.3gp	No
image/jpeg	JPEG	.jpeg, .jpg	Yes
image/gif	GIF	.gif	Yes
image/png	PNG	.png	Yes
video/h263	H263 video	.h263	Yes
video/m4v	M4V video	.m4v	Yes
video/mp4	MP4 video	.mp4	Yes
video/mpeg4	MPEG-4 video	.mp4, .m4p	Yes
video/mpeg	MPEG video	.mpeg	Yes
video/webm	WEBM video	.webm	Yes

Suggested replies

Suggested replies guide users through conversations by providing responses that your agent knows how to react to. Your agent sends suggested replies in suggestion chip lists or in rich cards.

When a user taps a suggested reply, your agent receives an event that contains the reply's text and postback data.

Suggested replies have a maximum of 25 characters.

Example

The following code sends text with two suggested replies. For formatting and value options, see SuggestedReply.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!',
    'suggestions': [
      {
        'reply': {
          'text': 'Suggestion #1',
          'postbackData': 'suggestion_1'
        }
      },
      {
        'reply': {
          'text': 'Suggestion #2',
          'postbackData': 'suggestion_2'
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

let suggestions = [
   {
      reply: {
         'text': 'Suggestion #1',
         'postbackData': 'suggestion_1',
      },
   },
   {
      reply: {
         'text': 'Suggestion #2',
         'postbackData': 'suggestion_2',
      },
   },
];

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
};

// Send a simple message with suggestion chips to the device
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
import com.google.rbm.SuggestionHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();
   suggestions.add(
      new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #1", "suggestion_1").getSuggestedReply());

   suggestions.add(
      new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #2", "suggestion_2").getSuggestedReply());

   // Send simple text message to user
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create text message to send to user
text_msg = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(text_msg)

# Append suggested replies for the message to send to the user
cluster.append_suggestion_chip(messages.SuggestedReply('Suggestion #1', 'reply:suggestion_1'))
cluster.append_suggestion_chip(messages.SuggestedReply('Suggestion #2', 'reply:suggestion_2'))

# Send a simple message with suggestion chips to the device
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                             projectId);

List<Suggestion> suggestions = new List<Suggestion>
{
   // Create suggestion chips
   new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #1", "suggestion_1").SuggestedReply(),
   new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #2", "suggestion_2").SuggestedReply()
};

// Send simple text message with suggestions to user
rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
    "Hello, world!",
    "[phone]",
   suggestions
);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Suggested actions

Suggested actions guide users through conversations by leaveraging the built-in functionality of the their devices. Your agent can suggest that users dial a number, open a location on a map, share a location, open a URL, or create a calendar event. Your agent sends suggested actions in suggestion chip lists or in rich cards.

When a user taps a suggested action, your agent receives an event that contains the action's postback data.

Suggested actions have a maximum of 25 characters.

For formatting and value options, see SuggestedAction.

Dial a number

The Dial action guides the user to dial a phone number specified by your agent. Phone numbers can only include digits (0-9), plus sign (+), asterisk (*), and number sign (#). The E.164 international format (for example, [phone]) is supported but not required. That is, both [phone] and 1011 are valid entries.

Example

The following code sends a dial action. For formatting and value options, see DialAction.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!',
    'suggestions': [
      {
        'action': {
          'text': 'Call',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_1234',
          'fallbackUrl': 'https://www.google.com/contact/',
          'dialAction': {
            'phoneNumber': '[phone]'
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Define a dial suggested action
let suggestions = [
   {
      action: {
         text: 'Call',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_1234',
         dialAction: {
            phoneNumber: '[phone]'
         }
      }
   },
];

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
};

// Send a simple message with a dial suggested action
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.DialAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.SuggestedAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();

   // creating a dial suggested action
   DialAction dialAction = new DialAction();
   dialAction.setPhoneNumber("[phone]");

   // creating a suggested action based on a dial action
   SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
   suggestedAction.setText("Call");
   suggestedAction.setPostbackData("postback_data_1234");
   suggestedAction.setDialAction(dialAction);

   // attaching action to a suggestion
   Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
   suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);

   suggestions.add(suggestion);

   // Send simple text message with the suggestion action
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create a dial suggested action
suggestions = [
      messages.DialAction('Call', 'reply:postback_data_1234', '[phone]')
]

# Create text message to send to user
text_msg = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(text_msg)

# Append suggestions for the message to send to the user
for suggestion in suggestions:
    cluster.append_suggestion_chip(suggestion)

# Send a simple message with suggested action to the device
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                                 projectId);

// Create a dial an agent suggested action
DialAction dialAction = new DialAction
{
    PhoneNumber = "[phone]"
};

// Creating a suggested action based on a dial action
SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction
{
    Text = "Call",
    PostbackData = "postback_data_1234",
    DialAction = dialAction
};

// Attach action to a suggestion
Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion
{
    Action = suggestedAction
};

List<Suggestion> suggestions = new List<Suggestion>
{
    suggestion
};

rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
    "Hello, world!",
    "[phone]",
    suggestions
);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

View a location

The View location action displays a location in the user's default map app. You can specify the location either by latitude and longitude or with a query based on the user's current location. You can also set a custom label for the pin that displays in the map app.

Example

The following code sends a view location action. For formatting and value options, see ViewLocationAction.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!',
    'suggestions': [
      {
        'action': {
          'text': 'View map',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_1234',
          'fallbackUrl': 'https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4220188,-122.0844786,15z',
          'viewLocationAction': {
            'latLong': {
              'latitude': "37.4220188',
              'longitude': "-122.0844786'
            },
            'label': 'Googleplex'
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Define a view location suggested action
let suggestions = [
   {
      action: {
         text: 'View map',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_1234',
         viewLocationAction: {
            latLong: {
               latitude: 37.4220188,
               longitude: -122.0844786
            },
            label: 'Googleplex'
         }
      }
   },
];

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
};

// Send a simple message with a view location suggested action
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.ViewLocationAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.SuggestedAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();

   // creating a view location suggested action
   ViewLocationAction viewLocationAction = new ViewLocationAction();
   viewLocationAction.setQuery("Googleplex, Mountain View, CA");

   // creating a suggested action based on a view location action
   SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
   suggestedAction.setText("View map");
   suggestedAction.setPostbackData("postback_data_1234");
   suggestedAction.setViewLocationAction(viewLocationAction);

   // attaching action to a suggestion
   Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
   suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);

   suggestions.add(suggestion);

   // Send simple text message with the suggestion action
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create a view location suggested action
suggestions = [
      messages.ViewLocationAction('View map',
            'reply:postback_data_1234',
            query='Googleplex, Mountain View, CA')
]

# Create text message to send to user
text_msg = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(text_msg)

# Append suggestions for the message to send to the user
for suggestion in suggestions:
    cluster.append_suggestion_chip(suggestion)

# Send a simple message with suggested action to the device
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                                 projectId);

// create an view location action
ViewLocationAction viewLocationAction = new ViewLocationAction
{
    Query = "Googleplex Mountain View, CA"
};

// Attach the view location action to a suggested action
SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction
{
    ViewLocationAction = viewLocationAction,
    Text = "View map",
    PostbackData = "postback_data_1234"
};

// Attach the action to a suggestion object
Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion
{
    Action = suggestedAction
};

List<Suggestion> suggestions = new List<Suggestion>
{
    suggestion
};

rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
    "Hello, world!",
    "[phone]",
    suggestions
);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Share a location

The Share location action lets the user send a location to your agent. The location the user specifies is not necessarily the user's location.

Example

The following code sends a share location action. For formatting and value options, see ShareLocationAction.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!',
    'suggestions': [
      {
        'action': {
          'text': 'Share your location',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_1234',
          'shareLocationAction': {}
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Define a share location suggested action
let suggestions = [
   {
      action: {
         text: 'Share your location',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_1234',
         shareLocationAction: {
         }
      }
   },
];

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
};

// Send a simple message with a share location suggested action
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.ShareLocationAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.SuggestedAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();

   // creating a share location suggested action
   ShareLocationAction shareLocationAction = new ShareLocationAction();

   // creating a suggested action based on a share location action
   SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
   suggestedAction.setText("Share location");
   suggestedAction.setPostbackData("postback_data_1234");
   suggestedAction.setShareLocationAction(shareLocationAction);

   // attaching action to a suggestion
   Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
   suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);

   suggestions.add(suggestion);

   // Send simple text message with the suggestion action
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create a share location suggested action
suggestions = [
      messages.ShareLocationAction('Share location',
            'reply:postback_data_1234')
]

# Create text message to send to user
text_msg = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(text_msg)

# Append suggestions for the message to send to the user
for suggestion in suggestions:
    cluster.append_suggestion_chip(suggestion)

# Send a simple message with suggested action to the device
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                                 projectId);

// Create a share location action
ShareLocationAction shareLocationAction = new ShareLocationAction();

// Attach the share location action to a suggested action
SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction
{
    ShareLocationAction = shareLocationAction,
    Text = "Share location",
    PostbackData = "postback_data_1234"
};

// Attach the action to a suggestion object
Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion
{
    Action = suggestedAction
};

List<Suggestion> suggestions = new List<Suggestion>
{
    suggestion
};

rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
    "Hello, world!",
    "[phone]",
    suggestions
);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Open a URL

The Open URL action lets you guide users to a web page specified by your agent. By default, the web page opens in the user's browser. If a user has a default app configured for the web page, that app will open instead. In that case, the icon on the suggested action button will be the app's icon.

The Open URL action also supports integrated webviews; see Open URL with webview.

Example

The following code sends an open URL action. For formatting and value options, see OpenUrlAction.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!',
    'suggestions': [
      {
        'action': {
          'text': 'Open Google',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_1234',
          'openUrlAction': {
            'url': 'https://www.google.com'
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Define an open URL suggested action
let suggestions = [
   {
      action: {
         text: 'Open Google',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_1234',
         openUrlAction: {
            url: 'https://www.google.com'
         }
      }
   },
];

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
};

// Send a simple message with an open URL suggested action
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.OpenUrlAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.SuggestedAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();

   // creating an open url suggested action
   OpenUrlAction openUrlAction = new OpenUrlAction();
   openUrlAction.setUrl("https://www.google.com");

   // creating a suggested action based on an open url action
   SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
   suggestedAction.setText("Open Google");
   suggestedAction.setPostbackData("postback_data_1234");
   suggestedAction.setOpenUrlAction(openUrlAction);

   // attaching action to a suggestion
   Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
   suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);

   suggestions.add(suggestion);

   // Send simple text message with the suggestion action
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create an open url suggested action
suggestions = [
      messages.OpenUrlAction('Open Google',
            'reply:postback_data_1234',
            'https://www.google.com')
]

# Create text message to send to user
text_msg = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(text_msg)

# Append suggestions for the message to send to the user
for suggestion in suggestions:
    cluster.append_suggestion_chip(suggestion)

# Send a simple message with suggested action to the device
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                                 projectId);

// Create an open url action
OpenUrlAction openUrlAction = new OpenUrlAction
{
    Url = "https://www.google.com"
};

// Attach the open url action to a suggested action
SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction
{
    OpenUrlAction = openUrlAction,
    Text = "Open Google",
    PostbackData = "postback_data_1234"
};

// Attach the action to a suggestion object
Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion
{
    Action = suggestedAction
};

List<Suggestion> suggestions = new List<Suggestion>
{
    suggestion
};

rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
    "Hello, world!",
    "[phone]",
    suggestions
);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Open a URL with webview

Important: Webviews are available in RBM. However, we're gradually rolling out webview support for RBM in Google Messages. To use webviews in Google Messages now, you need to join the Early Access Program for testing. (The feature will become available in Google Messages for production agents at a later date.) To request Early Access for testing webviews in Google Messages, reach out to your RBM contact.

The Open URL with webview action loads the specified web page inside the messaging app with the rendering engine of your default browser. This allows the user to interact with the web page without leaving the RBM conversation. To enable webviews, see OpenURLApplication.

Webviews have three display modes. For formatting and value options, see WebviewViewMode.

• Full: The web page takes up the full screen
• Half: The web page takes up half of the screen
• Tall: The web page takes up three quarters of the screen

Example

The following code sends an Open URL with webview action. For formatting and value options, see OpenURLAction.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d '{
 "contentMessage": {
   "text": "Hello, world!",
   "suggestions": [
     {
       "action": {
         "text": "Open Google",
         "postbackData": "postback_data_1234",
         "openUrlAction": {
           "url": "https://www.google.com",
           "application": "WEBVIEW",
           "webviewViewMode": "FULL",
           "description": "Accessibility description"
         }
       }
     }
   ]
 }
}'

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.OpenUrlAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.SuggestedAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…
  
try {
  
   String URL = "https://www.google.com";
  
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();
  
   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();

   // Create suggestion to view webpage in full mode
   Suggestion viewInFullMode =  getUrlActionInWebview(URL, "FULL")
   suggestions.add(viewInFullMode);
  
   // create suggestion to view webpage in half mode
   Suggestion viewInHalfMode =  getUrlActionInWebview(URL, "HALF")
   suggestions.add(viewInHalfMode);
     
   // create suggestion to view webpage in tall mode
   Suggestion viewInTallMode =  getUrlActionInWebview(URL, "TALL")
   suggestions.add(viewInTallMode);
     
   // Send simple text message with the suggested action
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

  /**
    * Creates a suggested action to open URL in webview.
    *
    * @return a suggestion object for an open URL in webview action .
    */
    private Suggestion getUrlActionInWebview(String url,
                                             String viewMode) {
      // create an open url action
      OpenUrlAction openUrlAction = new OpenUrlAction();
      openUrlAction.setUrl(url);
      openUrlAction.setApplication("WEBVIEW");
      openUrlAction.setWebviewViewMode(viewMode);
      openUrlAction.setDescription("Accessibility description");
     
      // attach the open url action to a suggested action
      SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
      suggestedAction.setOpenUrlAction(openUrlAction);
      suggestedAction.setText('display_text');
      suggestedAction.setPostbackData('postback_data_123');
     
      // attach the action to a suggestion object
      Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
      suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);
     
      return suggestion;
    }

Create a calendar event

The Create calendar event action opens the user's calendar app and begins to create a new event with the specified information.

Example

The following code sends a create calendar event action. For formatting and value options, see CreateCalendarEventAction.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!',
    'suggestions': [
      {
        'action': {
          'text': 'Save to calendar',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_1234',
          'fallbackUrl': 'https://www.google.com/calendar',
          'createCalendarEventAction': {
            'startTime': '2020-06-30T19:00:00Z',
            'endTime': '2020-06-30T20:00:00Z',
            'title': 'My calendar event',
            'description': 'Description of the calendar event'
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Define a create calendar event suggested action
let suggestions = [
   {
      action: {
         text: 'Save to calendar',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_1234',
         createCalendarEventAction: {
            startTime: '2020-06-30T19:00:00Z',
            endTime: '2020-06-30T20:00:00Z',
            title: 'My calendar event',
            description: 'Description of the calendar event',
         },
      }
   },
];

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
};

// Send a simple message with a create calendar event suggested action
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.CreateCalendarEventAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.SuggestedAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();

   // creating a create calendar event suggested action
   CreateCalendarEventAction createCalendarEventAction = new CreateCalendarEventAction();
   calendarEventAction.setTitle("My calendar event");
   calendarEventAction.setDescription("Description of the calendar event");
   calendarEventAction.setStartTime("2020-06-30T19:00:00Z");
   calendarEventAction.setEndTime("2020-06-30T20:00:00Z");

   // creating a suggested action based on a create calendar event action
   SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
   suggestedAction.setText("Save to calendar");
   suggestedAction.setPostbackData("postback_data_1234");
   suggestedAction.setCreateCalendarEventAction(createCalendarEventAction);

   // attaching action to a suggestion
   Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
   suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);

   suggestions.add(suggestion);

   // Send simple text message with the suggestion action
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Create a calendar event suggested action
suggestions = [
      messages.CreateCalendarEventAction('Save to Calendar',
                             'reply:postback_data_1234',
                             '2020-06-30T19:00:00Z',
                             '2020-06-30T20:00:00Z',
                             'My calendar event',
                             'Description of the calendar event')

]

# Create text message to send to user
text_msg = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(text_msg)

# Append suggestions for the message to send to the user
for suggestion in suggestions:
    cluster.append_suggestion_chip(suggestion)

# Send a simple message with suggested action to the device
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                                 projectId);

// Create a calendar event action
CreateCalendarEventAction calendarEventAction = new CreateCalendarEventAction
{
    Title = "My calendar event",
    Description = "Description of the calendar event",
    StartTime = "2020-06-30T19:00:00Z",
    EndTime = "2020-06-30T20:00:00Z"
};

// Attach the calendar event action to a suggested action
SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction
{
    CreateCalendarEventAction = calendarEventAction,
    Text = "Save to calendar",
    PostbackData = "postback_data_1234"
};

// Attach the action to a suggestion object
Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion
{
    Action = suggestedAction
};

List<Suggestion> suggestions = new List<Suggestion>
{
    suggestion
};

rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
    "Hello, world!",
    "[phone]",
    suggestions
);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Compose messages

The Compose action opens the user's messaging app so they can send messages to a predefined phone number, such as a Customer Support number.

Beta: We're gradually rolling out the Compose action in Google Messages, so you may not have access to it right away. To get access before the full rollout, you can join the Messages Open Beta program.

There are three types of Compose actions. For visual examples, see Compose a text, audio, or video message.

• Compose a text message: Opens the messaging app with prefilled text for the user to send.
• Compose an audio message: Opens the messaging app and launches the microphone so the user can record audio.
• Compose a video message: Opens the messaging app and launches the camera so the user can record a video.

Example

The following code sends a compose action. For formatting and value options, see ComposeAction.

cURL

  curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
  -H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \  
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'text': 'Hello, world!',
    'suggestions': [
      {
        'action': {
          'text': 'Compose a text message',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_123',
          'composeAction': {
            'composeTextMessage': {
              'phoneNumber': '[phone]'
              'text': 'Draft to go into the send message text field.'
            }
          }
        }
      },{
        'action': {
          'text': 'Compose an audio message',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_456',
          'composeAction': {
            'composeRecordingMessage': {
              'phoneNumber': '[phone]'
              'type': 'ACTION_TYPE_AUDIO'
            }
          }
        }
      },{
        'action': {
          'text': 'Compose a video message',
          'postbackData': 'postback_data_789',
          'composeAction': {
            'composeRecordingMessage': {
              'phoneNumber': '[phone]'
              'type': 'ACTION_TYPE_VIDEO'
            }
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Define a compose suggested action
let suggestions = [
   {
      action: {
         text: 'Compose a text message',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_123',
         'composeAction': {
            'composeTextMessage': {
               'phoneNumber': '[phone]'
               'text': 'Draft to go into the send message text field.'
            }
         }
      }
   },{
      action: {
         text: 'Compose an audio message',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_456',
         'composeAction': {
            'composeRecordingMessage': {
               'phoneNumber': '[phone]'
               'type': 'ACTION_TYPE_AUDIO'
            }
         }
      }
   },{
      action: {
         text: 'Compose a video message',
         postbackData: 'postback_data_789',
         'composeAction': {
            'composeRecordingMessage': {
               'phoneNumber': '[phone]'
               'type': 'ACTION_TYPE_VIDEO'
            }
         }
      }
   }
];

let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
};

// Send a simple message with a dial suggested action
rbmApiHelper.sendMessage(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.ComposeAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.ComposeRecordingMessage;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.ComposeTextMessage;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.SuggestedAction;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();

   // creating compose text suggested action
   Suggestion composeTextSuggestion =  getComposeTextAction()
   suggestions.add(composeTextSuggestion);

   // creating compose audio suggested action
   Suggestion composeAudioSuggestion =  getComposeAudioAction()
   suggestions.add(composeAudioSuggestion);


   // Send simple text message with the suggestion action
   rbmApiHelper.sendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
   );
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

 /**
   * Creates a compose text suggested action.
   * @return A suggestion object for a compose text action.
 */
 private Suggestion getComposeTextAction() {
        // creating a compose text suggested action
        ComposeTextMessage message = new ComposeTextMessage();
        message.setPhoneNumber("[phone]");
        message.setText("Draft to go into the send message text field.");
        ComposeAction composeAction = new ComposeAction();
        composeAction.setComposeTextMessage(message);

        // creating a suggested action based on a compose text action
        SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
        suggestedAction.setText("Send a text message");
        suggestedAction.setPostbackData("postback_data_123");
        suggestedAction.setComposeAction(composeAction);

        // attaching action to a suggestion
        Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
        suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);

        return suggestion;
    }

    /**
     * Creates a compose audio suggested action.
     * @return A suggestion object for a compose audio action.
    */
    private Suggestion getComposeAudioAction() {
        // creating a compose audio suggested action
        ComposeRecordingMessage message = new ComposeRecordingMessage();
        message.setPhoneNumber("[phone]");
        message.setType("ACTION_TYPE_AUDIO");
        ComposeAction composeAction = new ComposeAction();
        composeAction.setComposeRecordingMessage(message);

        // creating a suggested action based on a compose text action
        SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction();
        suggestedAction.setText("Send an audio message");
        suggestedAction.setPostbackData("postback_data_456");
        suggestedAction.setComposeAction(composeAction);

        // attaching action to a suggestion
        Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion();
        suggestion.setAction(suggestedAction);

        return suggestion;
    }

Python

  # Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
  from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
  from rcs_business_messaging import messages

  # Create a dial suggested action
  suggestions = [
      messages.ComposeTextMessageAction(
          'Send a text message',
          'postback_data_123',
          '[phone]',
          '')
      messages.ComposeRecordingMessageAction(
          'Send an audio message',
          'postback_data_456',
          '[phone]',
          'ACTION_TYPE_AUDIO')
  
  ]

  # Create text message to send to user
  text_msg = messages.TextMessage('Hello, world!')
  cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(text_msg)

  # Append suggestions for the message to send to the user
  for suggestion in suggestions:
      cluster.append_suggestion_chip(suggestion)

  # Send a simple message with suggested action to the device
  cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

C#

  using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
  using RCSBusinessMessaging;
  …

  // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
  RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                                   projectId);

  // Create a compose text suggested action
  ComposeTextMessage composeTextMessage = new ComposeTextMessage{
      PhoneNumber = "[phone]"
      Text = "Draft to go into the send message text field."
  };

  ComposeAction composeAction = new ComposeAction
  {
      ComposeTextMessage = composeTextMessage
  };

  // Creating a suggested action based on a compose action
  SuggestedAction suggestedAction = new SuggestedAction
  {
      Text = "Send a text message",
      PostbackData = "postback_data_123",
      ComposeAction = composeAction
  };

  // Attach action to a suggestion
  Suggestion suggestion = new Suggestion
  {
      Action = suggestedAction
  };

  List suggestions = new List
  {
      suggestion
  };

  rbmApiHelper.SendTextMessage(
      "Hello, world!",
      "[phone]",
      suggestions
  );  

Suggestion chip list

Your agent sends suggestion chip lists with messages to guide users' subsequent actions. The chip list only displays when the associated message is at the bottom of the conversation. Any subsequent messages in the conversation (from either a user or your agent) overwrite the chip list.

The chips in the list are suggested replies and suggested actions.

Chip lists contain a maximum of 11 suggestion chips, and each chip label can have a maximum of 25 characters.

For formatting and value options, see AgentContentMessage.

Rich cards

When you need to send a chunk of related information, media, or suggestions, you should send a rich card. Rich cards allow your agent to send multiple units of information in a single message.

Rich cards can contain the following items:

• An image or video
• Title text
• Description text
• A list of suggested replies and suggested actions (maximum 4)

A rich card can contain all of the listed items, but a card must contain at least an image, video, or title to be valid. A rich card can contain a maximum of four suggested actions or suggested replies. It can't contain a combination of suggested actions and suggested replies on a single card.

Your agent can send multiple rich cards together in a rich card carousel.

The maximum size of a rich card payload is 250 KB. See the best practices for media file size recommendations and limits.

Card height

Cards expand vertically to fit their contents. Rich cards have a minimum height of 112 DP and a maximum height of 344 DP. If the contents of a card are not large enough to fill the minimum card height, the card expands and fills the extra height with whitespace.

Media in rich cards must fit one of three heights:

• Short: 112 DP
• Medium: 168 DP
• Tall: 264 DP

If the media doesn't fit the dimensions within the card given the selected height, the media preview is chosen by zooming and cropping the media.

Example

The following code sends a rich card with an image and suggested replies. For formatting and value options, see RichCard.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'richCard': {
      'standaloneCard': {
        'thumbnailImageAlignment': 'RIGHT',
        'cardOrientation': 'VERTICAL',
        'cardContent': {
          'title': 'Hello, world!',
          'description': 'RBM is awesome!',
          'media': {
            'height': 'TALL',
            'contentInfo':{
              'fileUrl': 'http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif',
              'forceRefresh': 'false'
            }
          },
          'suggestions': [
            {
              'reply': {
                'text': 'Suggestion #1',
                'postbackData': 'suggestion_1'
              }
            },
            {
              'reply': {
                'text': 'Suggestion #2',
                'postbackData': 'suggestion_2'
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Suggested replies to be used in the card
let suggestions = [
   {
      reply: {
         'text': 'Suggestion #1',
         'postbackData': 'suggestion_1',
      },
   },
   {
      reply: {
         'text': 'Suggestion #2',
         'postbackData': 'suggestion_2',
      },
   },
];

// Image to be displayed by the card
let imageUrl = 'http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif';

// Definition of the card parameters
let params = {
   messageText: 'Hello, world!',
   messageDescription: 'RBM is awesome!',
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   suggestions: suggestions,
   imageUrl: imageUrl,
   height: 'TALL',
};

// Send rich card to device
rbmApiHelper.sendRichCard(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.StandaloneCard;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.cards.CardOrientation;
import com.google.rbm.cards.MediaHeight;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
import com.google.rbm.SuggestionHelper;
…

try {
   // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
   RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

   // Create suggestions for chip list
   List<Suggestion> suggestions = new ArrayList<Suggestion>();
   suggestions.add(
      new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #1", "suggestion_1").getSuggestedReply());

   suggestions.add(
      new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #2", "suggestion_2").getSuggestedReply());

   String imageUrl = "http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif";

   // Create a standalone rich card to send to the user
   StandaloneCard standaloneCard = rbmApiHelper.createStandaloneCard(
       "Hello, world!",
       "RBM is awesome!",
       imageUrl,
       MediaHeight.MEDIUM,
       CardOrientation.VERTICAL,
       suggestions
   );

   rbmApiHelper.sendStandaloneCard(standaloneCard, "[phone]");
} catch(Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Suggested replies to be used in the card
suggestions = [
      messages.SuggestedReply('Suggestion #1', 'reply:suggestion_1'),
      messages.SuggestedReply('Suggestion #2', 'reply:suggestion_2')
]

# Image to be displayed by the card
image_url = 'http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif';

# Define rich card structure
rich_card = messages.StandaloneCard('VERTICAL',
                                    'Hello, world!',
                                    'RBM is awesome!',
                                    suggestions,
                                    image_url,
                                    None,
                                    None,
                                    'MEDIUM')

# Append rich card and send to the user
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(rich_card)
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
using RCSBusinessMessaging.Cards;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                             projectId);

List<Suggestion> suggestions = new List<Suggestion>
{
   // Create suggestion chips
   new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #1", "suggestion_1").SuggestedReply(),
   new SuggestionHelper("Suggestion #2", "suggestion_2").SuggestedReply()
};

string imageUrl = "http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2015/googles-new-logo-5078286822539264.3-hp2x.gif";

// Create rich card with suggestions
StandaloneCard standaloneCard = rbmApiHelper.CreateStandaloneCard(
   "Hello, world!",
   "RBM is awesome",
   imageUrl,
   MediaHeight.TALL,
   CardOrientation.VERTICAL,
   suggestions
);

// Send rich card to user
rbmApiHelper.SendStandaloneCard(standaloneCard, "[phone]");

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Rich card carousels

When you need to present a user with multiple options to choose between, use a rich card carousel. Carousels string together multiple rich cards, allowing users to compare items and react to each individually.

Carousels may contain a minimum of two and a maximum of ten rich cards. Rich cards within carousels must conform to general rich card requirements for content and height.

The maximum size of a rich card carousel payload is 250 KB. See the best practices for media file size recommendations and limits.

Truncation

Much like rich cards, many factors (such as screen resolution, pixel density, and user preferences) affect how cards appear to end users. In a carousel, however, the height of the first few cards defines the height of all the cards in the carousel, and card height affects title, description, and suggestion truncation.

If a device can't display all elements of a card because of display constraints or card height, RBM truncates the card until it can display on the device, using the following logic:

1. Reduce the description to one line.
2. Reduce the title to one line.
3. Omit suggestions that don't fit in the card, starting from the end of the defined list.
4. Omit the description.
5. Omit the title.

To avoid truncation, keep titles and descriptions as short as possible. For tall media, use either a title and description or one suggestion. For medium media, use up to two suggestions. For short media, use up to three suggestions. To fit four suggestions, don't include media in the card.

Keep cards roughly equivalent in terms of content sizing and length, and if necessary, front-load the carousel with larger cards to avoid truncation in following cards.

Example

The following code sends a rich card carousel. For formatting and value options, see RichCard.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://REGION-rcsbusinessmessaging.googleapis.com/v1/phones/PHONE_NUMBER/agentMessages?messageId=MESSAGE_ID&agentId=AGENT_ID" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "User-Agent: curl/rcs-business-messaging" \
-H "`oauth2l header --json PATH_TO_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY rcsbusinessmessaging`" \
-d "{
  'contentMessage': {
    'richCard': {
      'carouselCard': {
        'cardWidth':'MEDIUM',
        'cardContents': [
          {
            'title':'Card #1',
            'description':'The description for card #1',
            'suggestions': [
              {
                'reply': {
                  'text':'Card #1',
                  'postbackData':'card_1'
                }
              }
            ],
            'media': {
              'height':'MEDIUM',
              'contentInfo': {
                'fileUrl':'https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/cute-dog.jpg',
                'forceRefresh':'false'
              }
            }
          },
          {
            'title':'Card #2',
            'description':'The description for card #2',
            'suggestions': [
              {
                'reply': {
                  'text':'Card #2',
                  'postbackData':'card_2'
                }
              }
            ],
            'media': {
              'height':'MEDIUM',
              'contentInfo': {
                'fileUrl':'https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/elephant.jpg',
                'forceRefresh': 'false'
              }
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}"

Node.js

// Reference to RBM API helper
const rbmApiHelper = require('@google/rcsbusinessmessaging');

// Images for the carousel cards
let card1Image = 'https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/cute-dog.jpg';
let card2Image = 'https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/elephant.jpg';

// Define the card contents for a carousel with two cards, each with one suggested reply
let cardContents = [
   {
      title: 'Card #1',
      description: 'The description for card #1',
      suggestions: [
         {
            reply: {
               text: 'Card #1',
               postbackData: 'card_1',
            }
         }
      ],
      media: {
         height: 'MEDIUM',
         contentInfo: {
            fileUrl: card1Image,
            forceRefresh: false,
         },
      },
   },
   {
      title: 'Card #2',
      description: 'The description for card #2',
      suggestions: [
         {
            reply: {
               text: 'Card #2',
               postbackData: 'card_2',
            }
         }
      ],
      media: {
         height: 'MEDIUM',
         contentInfo: {
            fileUrl: card2Image,
            forceRefresh: false,
         },
      },
   },
];

// Definition of carousel card
let params = {
   msisdn: '[phone]',
   cardContents: cardContents,
};

// Send the device the carousel card defined above
rbmApiHelper.sendCarouselCard(params, function(response) {
   console.log(response);
});

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Java

import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.CardContent;
import com.google.api.services.rcsbusinessmessaging.v1.model.Suggestion;
import com.google.rbm.cards.CardOrientation;
import com.google.rbm.cards.CardWidth;
import com.google.rbm.cards.MediaHeight;
import com.google.rbm.RbmApiHelper;
import com.google.rbm.SuggestionHelper;
…

try {
            // Create an instance of the RBM API helper
            RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper();

            List cardContents = new ArrayList();

            // Images for the carousel cards
            String card1Image = "https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/cute-dog.jpg";

            // Create suggestions for first carousel card
            List card1Suggestions = new ArrayList();
            card1Suggestions.add(
                new SuggestionHelper("Card #1", "card_1"));

            cardContents.add(
                new StandaloneCardHelper(
                    "Card #1",
                    "The description for card #1",
                    card1Image,
                    card1Suggestions)
                    .getCardContent(MediaHeight.SHORT)
            );

            // Images for the carousel cards
            String card2Image = "https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/elephant.jpg";

            // Create suggestions for second carousel card
            List card2Suggestions = new ArrayList();
            card2Suggestions.add(
                new SuggestionHelper("Card #2", "card_2"));

            cardContents.add(
                new StandaloneCardHelper(
                    "Card #2",
                    "The description for card #2",
                    card2Image,
                    card2Suggestions)
                    .getCardContent(MediaHeight.SHORT)
            );

            // Send the carousel to the user
            rbmApiHelper.sendCarouselCards(cardContents, CardWidth.MEDIUM, "[phone]");
        } catch(Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

Python

# Reference to RBM Python client helper and messaging object structure
from rcs_business_messaging import rbm_service
from rcs_business_messaging import messages

# Images for the carousel cards
card_image_1 = 'https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/cute-dog.jpg';
card_image_2 = 'https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/elephant.jpg';

# Suggested replies to be used in the cards
suggestions1 = [
      messages.SuggestedReply('Card #1', 'reply:card_1')
]

suggestions2 = [
      messages.SuggestedReply('Card #2', 'reply:card_2')
]

# Define the card contents for a carousel with two cards,
# each with one suggested reply
card_contents = []
card_contents.append(messages.CardContent('Card #1',
                                          'The description for card #1',
                                          card_image_1,
                                          'MEDIUM',
                                          suggestions1))

card_contents.append(messages.CardContent('Card #2',
                                          'The description for card #2',
                                          card_image_2,
                                          'MEDIUM',
                                          suggestions2))

# Send the device the carousel card defined above
carousel_card = messages.CarouselCard('MEDIUM', card_contents)
cluster = messages.MessageCluster().append_message(carousel_card)
cluster.send_to_msisdn('[phone]')

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.

C#

using Google.Apis.RCSBusinessMessaging.v1.Data;
using RCSBusinessMessaging;
using RCSBusinessMessaging.Cards;
…

// Create an instance of the RBM API helper
RbmApiHelper rbmApiHelper = new RbmApiHelper(credentialsFileLocation,
                                             projectId);

// Image references to be used in the carousel cards
string card1Image = "https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/cute-dog.jpg";
string card2Image = "https://storage.googleapis.com/kitchen-sink-sample-images/elephant.jpg";

// Suggestion chip lists to be used in carousel cards
List<Suggestion> suggestions1 = new List<Suggestion>
{
   new SuggestionHelper("Card #1", "card_1").SuggestedReply()
};

List<Suggestion> suggestions2 = new List<Suggestion>
{
   new SuggestionHelper("Card #2", "card_2").SuggestedReply()
};

// Create the card content for the carousel
List<CardContent> cardContents = new List<CardContent>
{
   // Add items as card content
   new StandaloneCardHelper(
                    "Card #1",
                    "The description for card #1",
                    card1Image,
                    suggestions1).GetCardContent(),
   new StandaloneCardHelper(
                    "Card #2",
                    "The description for card #2",
                    card2Image,
                    suggestions2).GetCardContent()
};

// Send the carousel to the user
rbmApiHelper.SendCarouselCards(cardContents, CardWidth.MEDIUM, msisdn);

This code is an excerpt from an RBM sample agent.