Designing a modern messaging experience beyond SMS using RCS

An all-in-one SMS & RCS message organizer that brings smart inboxes, seamless OTP capture, and rich communication together — used daily by millions across India.

Product
JioMessages Lite
Domain
Communication / Messaging
Platform
Mobile (Android)
Role
UX/UI Designer · End-to-end

Overview

All-in-one SMS & RCS message organizer

JioMessages Lite is a lightweight, user-friendly messaging app that combines traditional SMS and modern RCS into a single, seamless experience. Built for simplicity and performance on low-end devices, the app ensures uninterrupted communication even in low-connectivity environments.

UX Storytelling Description

In many parts of India, messaging isn’t just about chatting—it’s about staying connected despite limitations. Users often deal with low-end devices, limited storage, and unstable internet connections. Most modern messaging apps, while feature-rich, become heavy, slow, and overwhelming in such environments.

This is where JioMessages Lite steps in.

The app is designed with a clear purpose: make communication simple, fast, and accessible for everyone. Instead of forcing users to choose between SMS and internet-based messaging, it intelligently combines both into a single, seamless experience. Whether the user is online or offline, the app ensures their message still goes through—removing uncertainty and friction.

From a UX perspective, the focus is on clarity and efficiency. The interface is minimal, reducing cognitive load for users who may not be tech-savvy. Conversations are easy to navigate, messages are quick to send, and essential actions are always within reach. There’s no unnecessary complexity—only what the user truly needs.

Performance plays a central role in the experience. The app is optimized to run smoothly on low-end devices, with fast load times and minimal data consumption. This makes it not just usable, but reliable in real-world conditions where speed and efficiency matter most.

However, while JioMessages Lite excels in functionality and performance, it leaves room for growth in emotional engagement and modern UI appeal. Enhancing visual design, adding subtle interactions, and introducing expressive features could elevate the experience from purely functional to more engaging and delightful.

Combines SMS & RCS chats in one place with automatic switching based on compatibility.

Organises messages into Personal, OTP, and Promotions to reduce clutter automatically.

One-tap copy for faster login flows with auto-detected OTPs highlighted intelligently.

Problem Statement

What's broken in messaging today?

SMS and internet-based messaging exist as separate apps — users constantly switch between platforms.

Traditional SMS lacks modern features like typing indicators, read receipts, and rich media sharing.

Most modern messaging apps aren't designed for low-end Android devices with limited storage or data.

My Role

End-to-end UX ownership

Owning the full design process — from research to final interface design — across all core journeys including Inbox, Chat, and Categorisation.

  • Conducted competitive analysis of messaging apps like WhatsApp and Google Messages
  • Defined user problems around fragmented messaging and OTP discoverability
  • Created wireframes & user flows for core journeys (Inbox, Chat, Categorization)
  • Designed high-fidelity UI screens aligned with Material Design principles
  • Built a scalable design system (colors, typography, components)
  • Focused on usability and accessibility for low-end device users
  • Iterated designs based on feedback and real-world usage scenarios

Design & Research Tool Kit

Key Features

Core mental model in messaging

SMS + RCS chats in one place. Auto-switches based on device compatibility.

Personal, OTP & Promotions buckets. Reduces clutter, improves discoverability.

Share images, videos, audio, and documents. Typing indicators & read receipts built-in.

Group chats and send messages to multiple users instantly at no extra overhead.

One-tap copy for faster login flows

UX Thinking

Three pillars of design

  • Fits all age groups
  • Minimal learning curve
  • Familiar patterns
  • FAuto-detect OTPs
  • Smart categorisation
  • Progressive RCS upgrade
  • Material Design inspired
  • High readability for OTP use
  • Minimal colour palette
  • Clear type hierarchy

Design Challenges

What made this hard

1.
Balancing performance vs. rich features — ensuring the app remains lightweight despite SMS/RCS duality
2.
Educating users about RCS vs SMS difference without overwhelming them in the interface
3.
Handling network-based feature switching gracefully across varying connectivity environments

UI Design

JioMessage — the future of messaging.

Some exciting features of Chat messaging inside Messages