Bandwidth's 2026 State of Messaging Report Reveals Biggest Messaging Transformation in a Decade
Bandwidth (NASDAQ: BAND) released its 2026 State of Messaging Report on Jan 22, 2026, finding the largest shift in business messaging in a decade driven by RCS, AI and trust.
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Rhea-AI Summary
Bandwidth (NASDAQ: BAND) released its 2026 State of Messaging Report on Jan 22, 2026, finding the largest shift in business messaging in a decade driven by RCS, AI and trust.
Key data: RCS device coverage is 96%; 59% of businesses plan to deploy RCS but have not launched; the report forecasts 80% of enterprise apps will be multimodal by 2030. The report highlights SMS remaining as a cost‑efficient backbone, a move toward branded/verified messaging to rebuild trust, and deliverability as the top decision factor for messaging providers.
Positive
- RCS device coverage at 96%
- 80% of enterprise apps forecast to be multimodal by 2030
Negative
- 59% of businesses plan RCS deployments but have not launched
- Rising consumer skepticism of traditional SMS links risks engagement
Details
News Market Reaction – BAND
On Jan 22, the day this news came out, BAND closed 1.25% above the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jan 22 session.
Key Figures
- RCS device coverage
- 96 percent
- Share of devices with RCS support per 2026 report
- Businesses planning RCS
- 59 percent
- Surveyed businesses planning but not yet launching RCS
- Multimodal apps by 2030
- 80 percent
- Share of enterprise applications expected to be multimodal by 2030
- Enterprise leaders surveyed
- 1,000+
- Enterprise messaging leaders in Bandwidth’s 2026 report survey
- Consumers surveyed
- 500
- Consumers included in Bandwidth’s 2026 messaging survey
- Share price
- $13.62
- Current BAND price before this news
- Price vs 52-week high
- -31.49 percent
- Distance below 52-week high of $19.8799
- Price vs 52-week low
- 20.21 percent
- Distance above 52-week low of $11.33
Historical Context
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Reported Q3 revenue and raised full‑year Adjusted EBITDA outlook.
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Announced timing and details for upcoming Q3 2025 earnings call.
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Recognized by Ally Financial for AI-enabled cloud transformation work.
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Added support for OpenAI’s Realtime API to power AI voice agents.
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Partnered with Out There Media to launch RCS messaging for brands.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
ai technical
sms technical
10dlc technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
RCS, AI and Trust are driving a critical shift from simple, 2-way SMS to rich customer conversations
Titled "The Future is Conversational," Bandwidth's 2026 report is an executive guide for brand leaders to understand what's changing, what's next and how to build modern messaging strategies that deliver richer, smarter and more secure customer experiences. Findings are based on a survey of more than 1,000 enterprise messaging leaders and 500 consumers, combined with proprietary research and insights from Bandwidth's industry experts.
"Business messaging is expected to evolve faster than ever in 2026. To stay competitive, enterprises are deploying richer channels and AI to engage customers where they are—fluid, fast, and woven into the way they live their lives," said Tim Sherwood, Bandwidth's Senior Vice President and General Manager of Messaging. "Our new report helps brand leaders get current on the latest trends and take action to future-proof their messaging strategies for competitive advantage."
Five key insights from Bandwidth's 2026 State of Messaging Report include:
1. The "RCS Gap" is a Massive Opportunity
While RCS device coverage has reached 96 percent, 59 percent of businesses surveyed are currently planning to deploy RCS but have not yet launched. Early adopters who bridge this gap now will set the benchmarks for customer engagement.
2. AI + Messaging = Multimodal Conversations
By 2030, 80 percent of enterprise applications will be multimodal, blending voice, text and visual content seamlessly. The report shows how RCS and AI-driven interactive messaging are emerging as preferred ways to deliver these experiences.
3. SMS Remains the Backbone
Despite surging RCS adoption, SMS continues to deliver cost-efficient, high-volume reach. To maximize ROI, savvy brands are orchestrating a mix of short codes, toll-free, 10DLC and RCS—amplified by AI—to modernize and personalize the customer experience.
4. Trust is the New Differentiator
With increasing consumer skepticism toward traditional SMS links, the report notes how enterprises are shifting toward branded, verified messaging to rebuild engagement and confidence. RCS enables secure features like sender verification, trusted icons and branded interactions.
5. Deliverability is Mission-Critical
The report reinforces that message deliverability remains the top decision factor when choosing a messaging provider, outweighing cost or features. Bandwidth's advanced tools for campaign registration and delivery insights were built to deliver on this enterprise priority.
Download the Report
Bandwidth supports some of the world's most demanding brands across retail, e-commerce, financial services, healthcare, tech and more. Stay ahead of the messaging curve by downloading Bandwidth's 2026 State of Messaging Report now.
About Bandwidth Inc.
Bandwidth (NASDAQ: BAND) is a global cloud communications software company that helps enterprises deliver exceptional experiences through voice calling, text messaging and emergency services. Our solutions and our Communications Cloud, covering 65+ countries and over 90 percent of global GDP, are trusted by all the leaders in unified communications and cloud contact centers–including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Google, Microsoft, RingCentral, Zoom, Genesys and Five9–as well as Global 2000 enterprises and SaaS builders like Docusign, Uber and Yosi Health. As a founder of the cloud communications revolution, we are the first and only global Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) to offer a unique combination of composable APIs, AI capabilities, owner-operated network and broad regulatory experience. Our award-winning support teams help businesses around the world transform their communications every day. For more information, visit Bandwidth.com.
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SOURCE Bandwidth Inc.
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