Software:Google Messages

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Google Messages
The logo is made up of a blue circle, with a speech bubble in the center. The speech bubble contains 3 light blue lines, with the last line shorter than the rest.
Developer(s)Google
Initial releaseAndroid: Template:Sda
Web: Template:Sda
Wear OS: Template:Sda
Operating systemAndroid 8+, Wear OS, web Template:Clist
PredecessorVarious
License
Websitemessages.google.com/web

Google Messages[1] (formerly known as Messenger, Android Messages, and Messages by Google) is a text messaging software application developed by Google for its Android and Wear OS mobile operating systems. It is also available as a web app.

Google's official universal messaging platform for the Android ecosystem, Messages employs SMS, MMS, and Rich Communication Services (RCS). Starting in 2023, Google has RCS activated by default on participating Android devices,[2] similar to the implementation of iMessage on Apple devices.[3]

History

The original code for Android SMS messaging was released in 2009 integrated into the operating system.[4] It was released as a standalone application independent of Android with the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014, replacing Google Hangouts as the default SMS app on Google's Nexus line of phones.[5]

In 2018, Messages adopted RCS messages and evolved to send larger data files, sync with other apps, and even create mass messages.[6] This was in preparation for when Google launched Messages for web.[7]

In December 2019, Google began to introduce support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging via an RCS service hosted by Google, referred to in the user interface as "chat features".[8] This was followed by a wider global rollout throughout 2020.[9]

The app surpassed 1 billion installs in April 2020,[10] doubling its number of installs in less than a year.[11]

Initially, RCS did not support end-to-end encryption.[12] In June 2021, Google introduced end-to-end encryption in Messages by default using the Signal Protocol, for all one-to-one RCS-based conversations,[13][14][15][16] for all RCS group chats in December 2022 for beta users,[17][18] and for all RCS users by August 2023, as well as enabling RCS for all users by default to encourage encryption.[19] In July 2023, Google announced it would build the Message Layer Security (MLS) end-to-end encryption protocol into Google Messages.[20]

Beginning with the Samsung Galaxy S21, Messages replaces Samsung's in-house Messages app as the default text messaging app for One UI for some regions and carriers.[21] In April 2021, the app began to receive UI modifications on Samsung devices to follow aspects of One UI, including pushing the top of the message list towards the middle of the screen to improve ergonomics.[22][23]

In February 2023, Google began to replace references to "chat features" in the Messages user interface with "RCS".[24] In August 2023, Google announced that Messages will use RCS by default for all users unless they opt out, to allow them to benefit from secure messaging.[19] In December 2023, with the arrival of several new features, the app was renamed "Google Messages".[1]

In July 2024, Samsung announced it would no longer pre-install Samsung Messages on its Galaxy devices in some regions, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip, favoring Google Messages instead.[25]

Features

Some of the most important features in Google Messages are:[26]

  • Send instant text and voice messages in 1:1 or group chat conversations over mobile data and Wi-Fi, via Android, Wear OS or the web.
  • End-to-end encryption for RCS chats.[19]
  • Typing, sent, delivered and read status
  • Reply and react to specific messages
  • Share files and high-resolution photos
  • Voice message transcriptions
  • Schedule messages
  • In-app reminders for birthdays and messages you didn't respond to after some time with Nudges[27]
  • Tight integration with the Google ecosystem, e.g. Google Calendar,[27] Meet,[28] Maps,[29] YouTube,[30] Photos,[31] Contacts, Assistant,[32] Search, Safe Browsing etc.
  • Web interface: Users can visit https://messages.google.com/web and either sign in with their Google account or scan the QR code that is shown with their smartphone to access a limited web version of the app that allows them to send and receive messages, provided the smartphone remains connected.[33]
  • Phone number recognition: The app shows the country and province of the caller. Additionally, it can show the company's name or a warning for spam calls if the number is registered in a data base.[34]
  • Access to the Gemini chatbot on select Pixel, Galaxy and Android devices.[35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Li, Abner (December 1, 2023). "'Messages by Google' is now just 'Google Messages'". https://9to5google.com/2023/12/01/google-messages-name/. 
  2. ↑ Li, Abner. "Google Messages turning on RCS by default, group E2E encryption launches". https://9to5google.com/2023/08/08/google-messages-rcs-default/. 
  3. ↑ Sattelberg, Will (2022-10-20). "Google is making Messages even more like iMessage, but still won't get you that blue bubble" (in en-US). https://www.androidpolice.com/google-messages-sms-react-suggested-starring-replies-more/. 
  4. ↑ Ciurana, Eugene (March 22, 2009). Developing with Google App Engine. Apress. ISBN 978-1-4302-1832-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=jUXh-Hl36oQC. 
  5. ↑ "Google: The New "Messenger" App In Android 5.0 Is A Stock SMS/MMS Solution, Not A Hangouts Replacement / Rebrand". October 15, 2014. https://www.androidpolice.com/2014/10/15/google-the-new-messenger-app-in-android-5-0-is-a-stock-smsmms-solution-not-a-hangouts-replacement-rebrand/. 
  6. ↑ Benny Schlesinger, Hen Fitoussi, Avichai COHEN, Yuval Pinchas Borsutsky, Eldar Cohen, William Ramsey, Delia Koren, "Computer messaging bot creation", US patent US10162817B2, issued December 25, 2018, assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
  7. ↑ Villas-Boas, Antonio. "Android users who are jealous of iMessage need to know about Google's 'Messages for web' service, which lets you text from almost any computer". https://www.businessinsider.com/google-messages-for-web-how-to-android-imessage-2019-12. 
  8. ↑ "Google Messages get RCS on Android to make it more like Apple iMessage". December 18, 2019. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/18/google-messages-get-rcs-on-android-to-make-it-more-like-apple-imessage.html. 
  9. ↑ Vonau, Manuel (November 3, 2020). "RCS support in Messages is spreading to more countries, including India". https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/11/03/google-messages-begins-rolling-out-rcs-support-in-italy/. 
  10. ↑ "Google Messages passes one billion installs on the Play Store". May 1, 2020. https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/05/01/google-messages-passes-one-billion-installs-on-the-play-store/. 
  11. ↑ "Google's Android Messages passes 500 million installs on the Play Store". May 25, 2019. https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/05/25/googles-android-messages-passes-500-million-installs-on-the-play-store/. 
  12. ↑ Haselton, Todd (December 18, 2019). "Google makes texting on Android more like Apple's iMessage but with one less safeguard against spying eyes". https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/18/google-messages-get-rcs-on-android-to-make-it-more-like-apple-imessage.html. 
  13. ↑ Amadeo, Ron (June 16, 2021). "Google enables end-to-end encryption for Android's default SMS/RCS app". https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/google-enables-end-to-end-encryption-for-androids-default-sms-rcs-app/. 
  14. ↑ Clark, Mitchell (June 15, 2021). "Google adds E2E RCS encryption to Messages, emoji mashup suggests, and more for Android". https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/15/22534173/google-android-summer-features-earthquake-messages-emoji-kitchen-auto-voice-access. 
  15. ↑ Bohn, Dieter (November 19, 2020). "Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS in Android Messages beta". Vox Media, Inc.. https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2020/11/19/21574451/android-rcs-encryption-message-end-to-end-beta. 
  16. ↑ Omara, Emad (June 2021). Technical Paper: Messages End-to-End Encryption Overview - (Report). 1.1. https://www.gstatic.com/messages/papers/messages_e2ee.pdf. 
  17. ↑ "Google Messages Gets End-to-End Encryption for Group Chats on Android" (in en). 2 December 2022. https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-messages-gets-end-to-end-encryption-for-group-chats-on-android. 
  18. ↑ Li, Abner (2022-12-02). "Google Messages starts rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for group chats in beta" (in en-US). https://9to5google.com/2022/12/02/google-messages-group-encryption/. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Perez, Sarah (2023-08-08). "Google's Messages app will now use RCS by default and encrypt group chats" (in en-US). https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/08/google-messages-will-now-use-rcs-by-default-and-encrypt-group-chats/. 
  20. ↑ "An important step towards secure and interoperable messaging" (in en). https://security.googleblog.com/2023/07/an-important-step-towards-secure-and.html. 
  21. ↑ Rayome, Alison DeNisco. "Samsung Galaxy S21 makes Google Messages app native, but there's a catch". https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s21-makes-google-messages-app-native/. 
  22. ↑ Porter, Jon (April 28, 2021). "Google Messages gets One UI-inspired redesign on recent Samsung flagships". https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/28/22407361/google-messages-samsung-s21-ultra-one-ui-redesign. 
  23. ↑ Tibken, Shara. "Samsung redesigns its smartphone user interface with One samsung UI". https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-redesigns-its-smartphone-user-interface-with-one-ui/. 
  24. ↑ Friedman, Alan (23 February 2023). "Google drops "Chat" for "RCS" on Android" (in en-US). https://www.phonearena.com/news/google-drops-chat-for-rcs_id145788. 
  25. ↑ Schoon, Ben (2024-07-21). "Samsung going all in on Google Messages in US, stops pre-installing Samsung Messages on Galaxy phones" (in en-US). https://9to5google.com/2024/07/20/samsung-google-messages-no-longer-pre-installing/. 
  26. ↑ "Messages by Google - A simple, helpful text messaging app" (in en). https://messages.google.com/. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Get reminders with Nudges - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/11555591?hl=en. 
  28. ↑ "Make calls with Google Duo - Android - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7538935?co=GENIE.Platform=Android&hl=en. 
  29. ↑ Kavafian, Hagop (2022-08-17). "How to share your location on Android" (in en-US). https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-share-location-android/. 
  30. ↑ Li, Abner (2022-10-20). "Google Messages adding in-app YouTube PiP, free RCS over inflight Wi-Fi, and more" (in en-US). https://9to5google.com/2022/10/20/google-messages-youtube-pip/. 
  31. ↑ Friedman, Alan (6 February 2022). "Google Messages update allows users to send Photos links for sharper videos and pictures" (in en-US). https://www.phonearena.com/news/google-messages-delivers-links-for-sharper-videos-and-photos_id138293. 
  32. ↑ "Access the Assistant in Messages, plus the latest on RCS" (in en-us). 2019-02-25. https://blog.google/products/messages/access-assistant-messages-plus-latest-rcs/. 
  33. ↑ "Check your messages on your computer or Android tablet - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7611075?hl=en-419. 
  34. ↑ "Use caller ID & spam protection - Phone app Help". https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/3459196?hl=en. 
  35. ↑ "Use Gemini in Google Messages - Gemini Apps Help". https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/14599070. 



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