Google is popping the Messages app into its personal bonafide variation on iMessages. The corporate’s announcement particulars a bundle of options coming to the Android app, together with emoji reactions for iPhone customers and voice message transcriptions. However the kicker is that a number of the new skills are solely accessible to different Android customers. Sound acquainted?
The primary new function is constructed particularly with iPhone customers in thoughts. Now once you’re chatting with your pals on iMessage, you’ll be able to react to their messages with a corresponding emoji, the identical means they did on iOS. Nonetheless, once you—the Android consumer—react, the iMessage consumer received’t see the emoji pop up on their finish. As a substitute, they’ll get a message displaying the emoji response and the message to which it’s referencing—it’s the identical means that iMessage used to ship reactions to Android customers till Google fastened it. How the tables have turned!
Google may also formally roll out the voice message transcription capacity launched with the brand new Pixel 7/7 Professional to different Android flagships, beginning with the Pixel 6/6Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S22 collection, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Now when somebody sends you a voice message, you’ll be capable of see the transcription on display screen with out listening to the audio. This function will work with an audio message despatched from an iPhone, although the iOS consumer has to document it individually within the Voice Memos app to share it.
Google will display screen your messages for you in case you’re shifting too quick and also you neglect one thing. Reminders are actually included straight in Messages in order that if somebody is chatting with you a few birthday or occasion, Google will assist remind you of that nearer to the date. The Messages app may also acknowledge addresses and different necessary data you would possibly must reference later and counsel you “star” the message as a favourite for fast entry.
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To entice you to make use of the remainder of its communication options, Google will counsel you hearth up a Meet name if somebody is pinging you about video chatting. It is going to additionally begin experimenting with a function that allows you to “textual content” a enterprise by way of Messages. And like Apple, it’s partnering with airways to get you entry to RCS even whereas strapped down in an enormous steel tube. United Airways is the primary to supply free messaging on flights in an effort to textual content of us again on the bottom with out forking over for the web entry charge.
These new skills are a part of Google’s marketing campaign to extol the virtues of RCS know-how, which stands for Wealthy Communication Companies, over conventional SMS and MMS. It hopes the Android-using lots will pile on sufficient to get Apple to budge out of its walled backyard. However till that occurs, messaging will proceed to be fragmented on Android, even with Google’s makes an attempt at lobbying towards unification.
The icing on this maelstrom of messaging information is that Google will usher in three new icons for its Android communication apps. The Telephone, Messages, and Contacts apps on Android shall be getting new blue-hued iconography to match the remainder of Google’s Materials You stylings. The replace is rolling out now within the Google Play retailer to suitable Android units.
