Google has released a standalone messaging app for Android on Google Play store. Called Messenger, the application features Google's new Material Design, though supports devices running Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, and above.
Google Messenger, like the traditional SMS app, lets you send and receive SMS and MMS messages to any phone. You can also send group texts and images,videos and audio messages to texts. The Messenger lets you search through contacts and conversation threads. It also gives you the option to block SMS senders. Other features include coloured text threads, archiving messages and emoji support. You can download Messenger for Android from here.
With the new Messenger, Google aims to reach out to users who haven't been using Hangouts for SMS. Contrary to rumours, Google's new Messenger doesn't seem to be a threat to the likes of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber and other popular messaging apps.
Google is often criticised for forcing users to use its applications. Its Hangouts application was criticized for tight integration of Google Hangouts to Google+, which many believe could lead unwilling to share personal information to others.
It will be really interesting to see how Google manages its Hangouts and Messenger applications. Will these two apps be interlinked? Also read: Facebook Messenger reaches 500 million monthly users.
Have you downloaded the Messenger app? Do you like/hate it? Let us know in the comments section below:
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