With Android 5.0 now out in the wild, there’s finally high-resolution shots of the new Android Lollipop interface. We’ve seen an initial build via the Android L developer previews, but there’s a fair bit of buzz about something not included in those builds but present front and centre in the dock on the new Android home screen: the Messaging app.
Since Google began allowing their all-in-one messaging app Hangouts to handle SMS, there’s been a lot of chatter about the default SMS app being removed. This chatter was confused somewhat by the appearance of this new message app in screenshots that surfaced in leaks. It appears that Google isn’t ready to force users into Hangouts for all their SMS and MMS messaging needs just yet though, with Google clarifying the new messaging app to Android Police
Messenger and Hangouts offer users choice, each have their own benefits. Hangouts work great for cross platform (web, iOS, Android) and cross medium communications (video, voice,messaging, SMS). Messenger will be specially designed to be a quick and easy way to send and receive SMS and MMS messages on Android; more to come (Nexus 6 will come with both apps).
So you will still have a SMS/MMS app if you don’t quite like the way Hangouts handles SMS messages.
Of course this updated icon also comes with an updated new look, it’s flat and appears to be very much in line with Material Design guidelines (as you’d expect).
This of course begs the question of whether Google will place the Messaging app into the Google Play store as they have with other apps like Camera and Keyboard.
We can’t wait to see the new Messaging app in action when Google releases their updated Android L (I guess we can say Android Lollipop now) developer builds on Saturday.
Do you use Hangouts for SMS or still use the default Messaging app or a third party SMS app?
I’m using Textra for SMS, but still use Hangouts (more so on desktop). I love that with Textra (and PushBullet) I can reply to SMS from my PC also. The new Hangouts ‘app’ on Windows is waaaay better than the crappy Chrome Extension they had before, and I quite enjoy using it now. I only speak to a few people on Hangouts though. I also have Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp on my phone. I actually prefer Facebook Messenger’s layout and implementation of chat heads the best. But yeah it really depends on who I’m contacting I guess, and don’t really… Read more »
Hangouts was fine until they removed the ability to include more than one person in an SMS which was a staggeringly ridiculous design decision. Result: Reversion to Sony’s SMS app on my Z3 Compact, installation of a third party app on my Nexus 5, and for the first time ever, regular use of Facebook Messenger. I don’t imagine any of those things are what Google were looking for in their manipulation of user behaviour.
Totally agree with that. Must be a mistake that it’s not possible to text a message to multiple recipients. Hopefully will Google correct this in the next update.
Personally, I find hangouts ugly and I don’t know anyone who uses it. I use a third party app, Textra. If this goes into the play store I will probably make the switch.
I suppose we all have varying experiences with Android. At least 90% of my friends and family use Hangouts, especially on the desktop. Being able to carry the same conversation over multiple devices is priceless. I even ring my parents in London using Hangouts Voicecalls.
How about they kill off Hangouts altogether and just have the hangouts IM function with that new SMS app.
But make it function like iMessage where you don’t have to choose whether you want to send an IM or SMS, it just figures it out and does it automatically for you. That’s smart, that’s how it should be.
Automatically would so not work for me. At my wife’s work they use Google apps hence she has two IM options (her private Google account and her Google account for work). She does NOT appreciate a private IM popping up in the middle of holding a presentation. So it’s very crucial for me to be able to choose.
and I just started using Hangouts for SMS/MMS … it’s much better having everything in one place/app.
I use it exclusively also. The only time I’d be unhappy is if I were sending group messages which I don’t do.
I’m in the same boat as you two. Hangouts exclusively.
And whatsapp for my cross platform group messaging.