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New Google chat

Started Aug 31, 2020 | Discussions
fotografffic Senior Member • Posts: 1,328
New Google chat

Can someone please help me decipher this article ?

I've been using Google Messenger for some time. The other day it presented me with the choice to switch it to Chat. I didn't.

Then I read this: "SMS is a basic tech that’s really best avoided—and unfortunately RCS hasn’t fixed one of its most critical issues."

So I shouldn't be using Google Messenger with or without the chat feature? Use WhatsApp instead (article warns about Facebook)? or something called Signal?

Thank you.

I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: New Google chat
1

Somebody else is likely much better informed about RCS than me, all I know is that Google plans to deploy it to replace SMS/MMS for general text messaging and media - for that it requires support of various telecom providers. It's still a work in progress and there's no need to switch away from SMS/MMS if they're doing the job well. I personally use a third-party SMS/MMS app (Chomp) mainly to keep data away from Google's own app, along with some other nice features. SMS/MMS still has the virtue of being nearly universally available to smartphone users of any brand or platform.

The two other considerations are a) compatibility, e.g. if a correspondent only uses a different proprietary service that doesn't send/receive SMS/MMS content - and b) encryption, which is lacking for ordinary SMS/MMS. SIgnal app encrypts messages thoroughly but the other user has to use it, too, and most people just don't.

Worth adding in a photo forum that MMS file size limits and format recognition can vary in sending images or videos between telecom providers and even between Google and Apple devices, and it may be RCS or whatever comes next improves on that.

wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,950
Re: New Google chat

fotografffic wrote:

Can someone please help me decipher this article ?

I've been using Google Messenger for some time. The other day it presented me with the choice to switch it to Chat. I didn't.

Then I read this: "SMS is a basic tech that’s really best avoided—and unfortunately RCS hasn’t fixed one of its most critical issues."

So I shouldn't be using Google Messenger with or without the chat feature? Use WhatsApp instead (article warns about Facebook)? or something called Signal?

Thank you.

On my Android phone I have Google Messages not Chat and I have heard the same warning. Which is that RCS is not yet ready. Chat is disabled in Messages on my phone. I use the phone for SMS.

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TacoTruck Forum Member • Posts: 69
Re: New Google chat

I2K4 wrote:

Worth adding in a photo forum that MMS file size limits and format recognition can vary in sending images or videos between telecom providers and even between Google and Apple devices, and it may be RCS or whatever comes next improves on that.

This is the second biggest reason to move to one of the other messaging apps and stop using SMS. Largest reason would be encryption, IMO. Group chats where you can invite someone new to the group without having to start a new group chat, being able to reply to a specific post in a text stream, calling, video calling, and just nicer features overall make using one the other messaging apps worth moving away from text.

I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: New Google chat

TacoTruck wrote:

I2K4 wrote:

Worth adding in a photo forum that MMS file size limits and format recognition can vary in sending images or videos between telecom providers and even between Google and Apple devices, and it may be RCS or whatever comes next improves on that.

This is the second biggest reason to move to one of the other messaging apps and stop using SMS. Largest reason would be encryption, IMO. Group chats where you can invite someone new to the group without having to start a new group chat, being able to reply to a specific post in a text stream, calling, video calling, and just nicer features overall make using one the other messaging apps worth moving away from text.

Without a professional or other need, for me it would be just nice if others would play along on an encrypted message service. I share concerns about giving away privacy to these giant companies and implicitly governments in a weak regulatory environment. But it isn't happening. For a while I used the Silence app that offers the convenience of plain vanilla SMS/MMS when the recipient isn't a user of its own Signal-encrypted format - it lacks some features Chomp has. Maybe worth a look for those who want a one-stop messaging app with security.

After some video recognition and file size problems between my daughter's iPhone on one Canadian telco and my Android phone on another, we just send anything substantial by email or sometimes one of the file senders like WeTransfer. I'll get an SMS with a message or url link about it. (I also discovered some messaging apps / services enable "Stagefright" protection by default, and that can block innocent videos - I've disabled it on MMS, but worth a web search for due diligence.)

OP fotografffic Senior Member • Posts: 1,328
Re: New Google chat

Thank you everyone for your insights. Still a bit over my head but you've given information that I can use to better educate myself.

CAcreeks
CAcreeks Forum Pro • Posts: 18,924
Re: New Google chat

wklee wrote:

fotografffic wrote:

Can someone please help me decipher this article ?

I've been using Google Messenger for some time. The other day it presented me with the choice to switch it to Chat. I didn't.

Then I read this: "SMS is a basic tech that’s really best avoided—and unfortunately RCS hasn’t fixed one of its most critical issues."

So I shouldn't be using Google Messenger with or without the chat feature? Use WhatsApp instead (article warns about Facebook)? or something called Signal?

Thank you.

On my Android phone I have Google Messages not Chat and I have heard the same warning. Which is that RCS is not yet ready. Chat is disabled in Messages on my phone. I use the phone for SMS.

I was confused by your first post - there is no such thing as Google Messenger. Your second post is correct. It is Google Messages, a simple SMS based app. Blue quote rectangle with 2.7 white lines. Aside from lack of end-to-end encryption, SMS is slow (especially for photos), unreliable, multi-user hostile, and seldom available over WiFi.

I'm not planning to install Google Chat until somebody I know demands to use it. Possibly it will be like Google+, which never took off. I liked Hangouts because it had an interface inside Gmail, but Google abandoned it, the fockers.

A manager forced me to install WhatsApp for a conference, but I deleted it as soon as I could. Seems like a duplication of every other messaging app.

My family uses Signal. It seems good so far. Like WhatsApp it is end-to-end encrypted, but not owned by Facebook.

wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,950
Re: New Google chat

CAcreeks wrote:

wklee wrote:

fotografffic wrote:

Can someone please help me decipher this article ?

I've been using Google Messenger for some time. The other day it presented me with the choice to switch it to Chat. I didn't.

Then I read this: "SMS is a basic tech that’s really best avoided—and unfortunately RCS hasn’t fixed one of its most critical issues."

So I shouldn't be using Google Messenger with or without the chat feature? Use WhatsApp instead (article warns about Facebook)? or something called Signal?

Thank you.

On my Android phone I have Google Messages not Chat and I have heard the same warning. Which is that RCS is not yet ready. Chat is disabled in Messages on my phone. I use the phone for SMS.

I was confused by your first post - there is no such thing as Google Messenger. Your second post is correct. It is Google Messages, a simple SMS based app. Blue quote rectangle with 2.7 white lines. Aside from lack of end-to-end encryption, SMS is slow (especially for photos), unreliable, multi-user hostile, and seldom available over WiFi.

I'm not planning to install Google Chat until somebody I know demands to use it. Possibly it will be like Google+, which never took off. I liked Hangouts because it had an interface inside Gmail, but Google abandoned it, the fockers.

A manager forced me to install WhatsApp for a conference, but I deleted it as soon as I could. Seems like a duplication of every other messaging app.

My family uses Signal. It seems good so far. Like WhatsApp it is end-to-end encrypted, but not owned by Facebook.

I'm not the OP. I wonder if there's confusion between Facebook Messenger and Google Messages, or some other "Messenger" App?

RCS in Messages has arrived, or is coming to more countries.

https://9to5google.com/2020/08/24/google-messages-rcs-countries/

I am seeing Google Jibe on my Android phone.

https://jibe.google.com/

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Till it's gone
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OP fotografffic Senior Member • Posts: 1,328
Re: New Google chat

CAcreeks wrote:

I was confused by your first post - there is no such thing as Google Messenger. Your second post is correct. It is Google Messages, a simple SMS based app. Blue quote rectangle with 2.7 white lines. Aside from lack of end-to-end encryption, SMS is slow (especially for photos), unreliable, multi-user hostile, and seldom available over WiFi.

Yes, I typed it wrong the first time. I do use Messages. LOL, I never consciously noticed the .7 line.

I'm not planning to install Google Chat until somebody I know demands to use it.

Same here.

wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,950
Check Settings

Chat is off for me. The Jibe reference can be found at the bottom of screen.

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Never buy version 1.0 of anything.
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi

CAcreeks
CAcreeks Forum Pro • Posts: 18,924
Re: New Google chat

fotografffic wrote:

CAcreeks wrote:

I was confused by your first post - there is no such thing as Google Messenger. Your second post is correct. It is Google Messages, a simple SMS based app. Blue quote rectangle with 2.7 white lines. Aside from lack of end-to-end encryption, SMS is slow (especially for photos), unreliable, multi-user hostile, and seldom available over WiFi.

Yes, I typed it wrong the first time. I do use Messages. LOL, I never consciously noticed the .7 line.

My wife doesn't like it, but I don't have any other messaging app installed besides Signal.

One nice feature is that you can visit G. Messages for Web, scan the QR code with your phone, and read/write messages when you're out of cell range but have WiFi.

https://messages.google.com/web

RCS seems to be available in the US since November 2019. Thanks wklee for your summary - saved me watching a 3 minute video.

wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,950
Re: New Google chat

CAcreeks wrote:

fotografffic wrote:

CAcreeks wrote:

I was confused by your first post - there is no such thing as Google Messenger. Your second post is correct. It is Google Messages, a simple SMS based app. Blue quote rectangle with 2.7 white lines. Aside from lack of end-to-end encryption, SMS is slow (especially for photos), unreliable, multi-user hostile, and seldom available over WiFi.

Yes, I typed it wrong the first time. I do use Messages. LOL, I never consciously noticed the .7 line.

My wife doesn't like it, but I don't have any other messaging app installed besides Signal.

One nice feature is that you can visit G. Messages for Web, scan the QR code with your phone, and read/write messages when you're out of cell range but have WiFi.

https://messages.google.com/web

RCS seems to be available in the US since November 2019. Thanks wklee for your summary - saved me watching a 3 minute video.

I am not seeing a Privacy section on Google Messages v6.4.044. I'm on Android 9.0. Android 10+ could have more features.

https://9to5google.com/2020/05/26/google-messages-end-to-end-encryption-rcs/

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Never buy version 1.0 of anything.
Don't it always seem to go
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Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi

OP fotografffic Senior Member • Posts: 1,328
Confused

I always admire how so many members of this forum are tech savvy. I'm not so fortunate.

I'm still confused about Google Messages. Is it okay to use without enabling chat? It is okay to use it at all?

I downloaded Signal but, unless I'm missing something, it doesn't encrypt unless the person I'm texting also uses Signal. I get annoying messages to invite people to use Signal. Plus they want me to verify my pin every few days.

I text to people with various platforms and have had no problems. I could care less about chatting. I do have WhatsApp on my phone but don't use it except to receive images from a family member.

Do these other programs only work if the receiver of a text has the same program?

wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,950
Re: Confused

fotografffic wrote:

I always admire how so many members of this forum are tech savvy. I'm not so fortunate.

I'm still confused about Google Messages. Is it okay to use without enabling chat? It is okay to use it at all?

It's OK. It'll work and that's what I've done. I seldom use Google Messages though. I am more on iOS, which doesn't have Google Messages.

I downloaded Signal but, unless I'm missing something, it doesn't encrypt unless the person I'm texting also uses Signal. I get annoying messages to invite people to use Signal. Plus they want me to verify my pin every few days.

I don't know of any contacts who is on Signal.

I text to people with various platforms and have had no problems. I could care less about chatting. I do have WhatsApp on my phone but don't use it except to receive images from a family member.

Do these other programs only work if the receiver of a text has the same program?

Yes It's the norm. A WhatsApp or Skype or LINE App or whichever App you choose will want the other party to use the same app. Facebook Messenger to Facebook Messenger (or Facebook without Messenger).

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Never buy version 1.0 of anything.
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi

I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Confused

fotografffic wrote:

...

Do these other programs only work if the receiver of a text has the same program?

I linked the "Silence" app above, that uses Signal's encryption if and only if the other party is also using the app, but it has the advantage of working as "ordinary" non-encrypted SMS / MMS for everybody else - saves the bother of using different apps for secure and non-secure messaging with separated conversations.  There may be some other recent alternatives like it - haven't kept up.  (As above, I haven't a current felt need for encryption but do want to keep personal correspondence away from Google's data machine, so use Chomp.)

NoraHensl
NoraHensl New Member • Posts: 7
Re: New Google chat

fotografffic wrote:

Can someone please help me decipher this article ?

I've been using Google Messenger for some time. The other day it presented me with the choice to switch it to Chat. I didn't.

Then I read this: "SMS is a basic tech that’s really best avoided—and unfortunately RCS hasn’t fixed one of its most critical issues."

So I shouldn't be using Google Messenger with or without the chat feature? Use WhatsApp instead (article warns about Facebook)? or something called Signal?

Thank you.

Sometime it's just easier and faster to use messengers instead of sms. Especially when some phone companies charge extra for sms, it's better to use messengers via internet.

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NoraHensl
NoraHensl New Member • Posts: 7
Re: New Google chat

CAcreeks wrote:

wklee wrote:

fotografffic wrote:

Can someone please help me decipher this article ?

I've been using Google Messenger for some time. The other day it presented me with the choice to switch it to Chat. I didn't.

Then I read this: "SMS is a basic tech that’s really best avoided—and unfortunately RCS hasn’t fixed one of its most critical issues."

So I shouldn't be using Google Messenger with or without the chat feature? Use WhatsApp instead (article warns about Facebook)? or something called Signal?

Thank you.

On my Android phone I have Google Messages not Chat and I have heard the same warning. Which is that RCS is not yet ready. Chat is disabled in Messages on my phone. I use the phone for SMS.

I was confused by your first post - there is no such thing as Google Messenger. Your second post is correct. It is Google Messages, a simple SMS based app. Blue quote rectangle with 2.7 white lines. Aside from lack of end-to-end encryption, SMS is slow (especially for photos), unreliable, multi-user hostile, and seldom available over WiFi.

I'm not planning to install Google Chat until somebody I know demands to use it. Possibly it will be like Google+, which never took off. I liked Hangouts because it had an interface inside Gmail, but Google abandoned it, the fockers.

A manager forced me to install WhatsApp for a conference, but I deleted it as soon as I could. Seems like a duplication of every other messaging app.

My family uses Signal. It seems good so far. Like WhatsApp it is end-to-end encrypted, but not owned by Faсebook.

I've never tried Signal. Is it really that good?

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CAcreeks
CAcreeks Forum Pro • Posts: 18,924
Re: New Google chat

NoraHensl wrote:

My family uses Signal. It seems good so far. Like WhatsApp it is end-to-end encrypted, but not owned by Faсebook.

I've never tried Signal. Is it really that good?

It's fine. All messaging apps I've tried have similar interfaces. The difference is that Signal is (currently) provided by a nonprofit organization.

Signal will take over SMS responsibilities if you want, but for SMS I still use Google Messages, the default on my Android One phone.

wklee Veteran Member • Posts: 9,950
Messenger

Is Messenger is generic name for Chat from 20 years ago? There used to be AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) or Yahoo or MSN Messenger. We now have WhatsApp or Messages. I still see references to "Messenger" instead of Chat. It appears Google Messages is the new name for Google Messenger. If I click the link below for Google Messenger, it leads me to Google Messages.

https://9to5google.com/guides/google-messenger/

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Never buy version 1.0 of anything.
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
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Inez Shaw
Inez Shaw New Member • Posts: 1
Re: Messenger

Now there are many messaging and chat applications with new types of options suitable for many different business characteristics and purposes. Apps are constantly changing to make the user better to use them, I use the modified fmwhatsapp app by Techbigs of whatsapp. It helps me a lot at work and personal chat.

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