Messages (Google)

Short description: Messaging application developed by Google

Messages

Developer(s)| Google
Initial release| Android: 2014; 12 years ago (2014)
Web: 2018; 8 years ago (2018)
Wear OS: 2014; 12 years ago (2014)
Operating system| Android, web, Wear OS
Predecessor| Various
Website| messages.google.com

Messages (formerly known as Android Messages) is an SMS, RCS, and instant messaging application developed by Google for its Android and WearOS mobile operating systems, while it's also available via the Web. Messages is Google's official universal messaging platform for the Android ecosystem, similar to the implementation of iMessage on Apple devices.[1]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Features
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## History

The original code for Android SMS messaging was released in 2009 integrated into the Operating System.[2] 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.[3]

In 2018, Messages adopted RCS messages and was evolved to send larger data files, sync with other apps, and even create mass messages.[4] This was in preparation for when Google launched messages for web.[5]

In December 2019, Google rolled out support for RCS messaging (under the name chat features) in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Mexico.[6] This was followed by a wider global rollout throughout 2020.[7]

The app surpassed 1 billion installs in April 2020,[8] doubling its number of installs in less than a year.[9]

Initially, the app did not support end-to-end encryption.[10] 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,[11][12][13][14] and for all group chats in December 2022 for beta users, with plans for full release in early 2023.[15][16]

Beginning with the Samsung Galaxy S21, Messages replaces Samsung's in-house Messages app as the default messaging app for One UI in selected markets.[17] In April 2021, the app began to receive a modification to its user interface in markets outside of the U.S. when running on recent Samsung phones, which adheres to its use of larger headers within in-house apps to improve ergonomics.[18][19]

## Features

Some of the most important features in Google Messages are:[20]

* Send instant text and voice messages in 1:1 or group chat conversations over mobile data and Wi-Fi, via Android, WearOS or the Web.
* End-to-end encryption by default[13][14][15][16]
* 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[21]
* Tight integration with the Google ecosystem, e.g. Google Calendar,[21] Meet,[22] Maps,[23] YouTube,[24] Photos,[25] Contacts, Assistant,[26] Search, Safe Browsing etc.
* Web interface: The messages app can be used in a different device browser tab. To activate this feature, the user has to visit the webpage https://messages.google.com/web and scan the QR code that is shown in the web with the smartphone, by using that feature in the Messages app.[27]
* Phone number recognition: The app shows 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.[28]

## See also

* Messages (Apple)
* iMessage
* Google Allo
* Google Chat

## References

1. ↑ 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/.
2. ↑ 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.
3. ↑ "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/.
4. ↑ 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
5. ↑ 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.
6. ↑ "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.
7. ↑ 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/.
8. ↑ "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/.
9. ↑ "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/.
10. ↑ 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.
11. ↑ 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/.
12. ↑ 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.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 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.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Omara, Emad (June 2021). ﻿Technical Paper: Messages End-to-End Encryption Overview -﻿ (Report). 1.1. https://www.gstatic.com/messages/papers/messages_e2ee.pdf.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Google Messages Gets End-to-End Encryption for Group Chats on Android" (in en). https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-messages-gets-end-to-end-encryption-for-group-chats-on-android.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 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/.
17. ↑ 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/.
18. ↑ 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.
19. ↑ 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/.
20. ↑ "Messages by Google - A simple, helpful text messaging app" (in en). https://messages.google.com/.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Get reminders with Nudges - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/11555591?hl=en.
22. ↑ "Make calls with Google Duo - Android - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7538935?co=GENIE.Platform=Android&hl=en.
23. ↑ Kavafian, Hagop (2022-08-17). "How to share your location on Android" (in en-US). https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-share-location-android/.
24. ↑ 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/.
25. ↑ Friedman, Alan. "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.
26. ↑ "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/.
27. ↑ "Check your messages on your computer or Android tablet - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7611075?hl=en-419.
28. ↑ "Use caller ID & spam protection - Phone app Help". https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/3459196?hl=en.

## External links

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Instant messaging

Protocols
(comparison)|

| Open|

* IMPP
* IRC
* Matrix
* MTProto
* RetroShare
* Signal Protocol
* SIP
* MSRP
* SIMPLE
* Tox
* XMPP
* Jingle
* WFP
* Zephyr
* DDP

|

Closed|

* MSNP
* OSCAR
* TOC
* Skype

Services|

* Band
* BBM
* Discord
* Facebook Messenger
* FireChat
* GroupMe
* Hike Messenger
* HipChat
* ICQ
* iGap
* iMessage
* IRC Networks
* Jongla
* KakaoTalk
* Kik
* Libon
* Line
* Marco Polo
* Palringo
* Signal
* Skype
* Slack
* Snapchat
* SNOW
* Tango
* Telegram
* QQ
* Textfree/Pinger
* The Palace
* Threema
* Tox
* Trillian
* Upptalk
* Viber
* Virtual Places Chat
* WeChat
* WhatsApp
* Wickr
* Windows Messenger service
* Yahoo Together
* Zulip

Clients
(comparison)|

| Single protocol|

* Allo
* Baidu Hi
* BBM
* CSipSimple
* Facebook Messenger
* FaceTime
* Fetion
* Gadu-Gadu
* GroupMe
* IBM Sametime
* ICQ
* IMVU
* Jami
* Jongla
* Linphone
* Palringo
* RetroShare
* Ricochet
* Riot.im
* Signal
* Skype
* Telegram
* Tencent QQ
* Tox
* WeChat
* WhatsApp
* Wickr
* Wire

|

Multi-protocol|

* Adium
* Ayttm
* BitlBee
* Centericq
* eBuddy
* Empathy
* Fire
* Instantbird
* Jitsi
* Kopete
* Messages/iChat
* Miranda IM
* Nimbuzz
* Pidgin
* QIP 2010
* Skype for Business
* Trillian
* Telepathy
* Upptalk

XMPP (Jabber)|

* Bombus
* ChatSecure
* Conversations
* Gajim
* Psi
* Tkabber
* Spark

MSNP|

* aMSN
* Skype

Defunct|

* List of defunct instant messaging platforms

See also|

* Backchannel
* Chat log
* Chatbot
* Contact list
* Emoticon
* File sharing
* Instant message service center
* LAN messenger
* Messaging apps
* Presence information
* Shoutbox
* SMS language
* Status message
* Videotelephony
* Voice over IP
* Webcam
* U-Report
* Web chat
* Circuit
* FirstClass
* Flock
* Fuze Box
* Glip
* Hall.com
* Yammer

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