Google Messages Explained

Logo Alt: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.
Screenshot Size:200px
Developer:Google
Released:Android


Web:
Wear OS:

Ver Layout:stacked
Operating System:Android, web, Wear OS
Replaces:Various
License:

Google Messages (formerly known as Messenger, Android Messages, and Messages) is a text messaging software application developed by Google for its Android and Wear OS mobile operating systems, while it's also available via the Web.

Google's official universal messaging platform for the Android ecosystem, Messages employs SMS and Rich Communication Services (RCS). Starting in 2023, Google has RCS activated by default on participating Android devices,[1] similar to the implementation of iMessage on Apple devices.[2]

History

The original code for Android SMS messaging was released in 2009 integrated into the Operating System.[3] 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.[4]

In 2018, Messages adopted RCS messages and evolved to send larger data files, sync with other apps, and even create mass messages.[5] This was in preparation for when Google launched messages for web.[6]

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".[7] This was followed by a wider global rollout throughout 2020.[8]

The app surpassed 1 billion installs in April 2020,[9] doubling its number of installs in less than a year.[10]

Initially, RCS did not support end-to-end encryption.[11] 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,[12] [13] [14] [15] for all RCS group chats in December 2022 for beta users,[16] [17] and for all RCS users by August 2023, as well as enabling RCS for all users by default to encourage encryption.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20] [21]

In February 2023, Google began to replace references to "chat features" in the Messages user interface with "RCS".[22] 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. In December 2023, with the arrival of a slew of new features, the app was renamed "Google Messages".[23]

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.[24]

Features

Some of the most important features in Google Messages are:[25]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Li . Abner . Google Messages turning on RCS by default, group E2E encryption launches . 20 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Sattelberg . Will . 2022-10-20 . Google is making Messages even more like iMessage, but still won't get you that blue bubble . 2022-11-05 . Android Police . en-US.
  3. Book: Ciurana, Eugene . Developing with Google App Engine . March 22, 2009 . Apress . 978-1-4302-1832-6.
  4. Web site: October 15, 2014 . Google: The New "Messenger" App In Android 5.0 Is A Stock SMS/MMS Solution, Not A Hangouts Replacement / Rebrand . May 25, 2020 . Android Police.
  5. US . US10162817B2 . patent . Computer messaging bot creation . December 25, 2018 . June 4, 2014 . June 4, 2014 . Benny Schlesinger, Hen Fitoussi, Avichai COHEN, Yuval Pinchas Borsutsky, Eldar Cohen, William Ramsey, Delia Koren. Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC .
  6. Web site: 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 . Business Insider.
  7. Web site: December 18, 2019 . Google Messages get RCS on Android to make it more like Apple iMessage . July 30, 2020 . CNBC.
  8. Web site: Vonau . Manuel . November 3, 2020 . RCS support in Messages is spreading to more countries, including India . Android Police.
  9. Web site: May 1, 2020 . Google Messages passes one billion installs on the Play Store . May 25, 2020 . Android Police.
  10. Web site: May 25, 2019 . Google's Android Messages passes 500 million installs on the Play Store . May 25, 2020 . Android Police.
  11. Web site: Haselton . Todd . December 18, 2019 . Google makes texting on Android more like Apple's iMessage but with one less safeguard against spying eyes . CNBC.
  12. Web site: Amadeo . Ron . June 16, 2021 . Google enables end-to-end encryption for Android's default SMS/RCS app . Ars Technica.
  13. Web site: Clark . Mitchell . June 15, 2021 . Google adds E2E RCS encryption to Messages, emoji mashup suggests, and more for Android . The Verge.
  14. Web site: Bohn . Dieter . November 19, 2020 . Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS in Android Messages beta . November 28, 2020 . The Verge . Vox Media, Inc..
  15. Technical Paper: Messages End-to-End Encryption Overview - . Omara . Emad . June 2021 . gstatic.com . 1.1.
  16. Web site: Google Messages Gets End-to-End Encryption for Group Chats on Android . 2022-12-02 . PCMAG . en.
  17. Web site: Li . Abner . 2022-12-02 . Google Messages starts rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for group chats in beta . 2022-12-02 . . en-US.
  18. Web site: Perez . Sarah . 2023-08-08 . Google's Messages app will now use RCS by default and encrypt group chats . 2023-08-09 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  19. Web site: Rayome . Alison DeNisco . Samsung Galaxy S21 makes Google Messages app native, but there's a catch . April 28, 2021 . CNET.
  20. Web site: Porter . Jon . April 28, 2021 . Google Messages gets One UI-inspired redesign on recent Samsung flagships . April 28, 2021 . The Verge.
  21. Web site: Tibken . Shara . Samsung redesigns its smartphone user interface with One samsung UI . February 20, 2019 . CNET.
  22. Web site: Friedman . Alan . 23 February 2023 . Google drops "Chat" for "RCS" on Android . 2023-02-26 . Phone Arena . en-US.
  23. Web site: Li . Abner . December 1, 2023 . 'Messages by Google' is now just 'Google Messages' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202040120/https://9to5google.com/2023/12/01/google-messages-name/ . December 2, 2023 . December 4, 2023 . 9t5oGoogle.
  24. Web site: Schoon . Ben . 2024-07-21 . Samsung going all in on Google Messages in US, stops pre-installing Samsung Messages on Galaxy phones . 2024-07-21 . 9to5Google . en-US.
  25. Web site: Messages by Google - A simple, helpful text messaging app . 2022-11-04 . messages.google.com . en.
  26. Web site: Get reminders with Nudges - Messages Help . 2022-11-04 . support.google.com.
  27. Web site: Make calls with Google Duo - Android - Messages Help . May 25, 2020 . support.google.com.
  28. Web site: Kavafian . Hagop . 2022-08-17 . How to share your location on Android . 2022-11-04 . Android Police . en-US.
  29. Web site: Li . Abner . 2022-10-20 . Google Messages adding in-app YouTube PiP, free RCS over inflight Wi-Fi, and more . 2022-11-04 . . en-US.
  30. Web site: Friedman . Alan . Google Messages update allows users to send Photos links for sharper videos and pictures . 2022-11-06 . Phone Arena . 6 February 2022 . en-US.
  31. Web site: 2019-02-25 . Access the Assistant in Messages, plus the latest on RCS . 2022-11-04 . Google . en-us.
  32. Web site: Check your messages on your computer or Android tablet - Messages Help . 2023-02-13 . support.google.com.
  33. Web site: Use caller ID & spam protection - Phone app Help . 2023-02-13 . support.google.com.
  34. Web site: Use Gemini in Google Messages - Gemini Apps Help . 2024-02-26 . support.google.com.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Google Messages".

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