Google introduces voice messages in the Messages app: the goal is to succeed in establishing itself as the anti WhatsApp. Here’s how it works
Google tries again and does not give up. The Mountain View company doesn’t accept the fact that it has never managed to develop an instant messaging app and after several failures (Hangouts, Duo) has decided to relaunch: the Messages app will become an instant messaging app with features similar to those of WhatsApp. It’s not the first time Google has invested in this sector, but so far it has only reaped disappointments and failures.
If Hangouts is now close to closure and RCS (Rich Communication Services) technology is still in its infancy, Google has decided to invest in the development of the Messages app. This is not a new app, it is already present by default on all Android devices and is used to read, write and send SMS. The company wants to implement new features to allow you to send messages for free by taking advantage of your internet connection. Just as happens with WhatsApp, Telegram and Messenger, the main messaging apps.
Messages, the Google app that challenges WhatsApp
Google has several solutions in the pipeline to undermine the overwhelming power of WhatsApp. The first is to enhance the Messages app, while in a few years a new app will arrive that will take advantage of the RCS connection protocol, also known as SMS 2.0 (it allows you to send images, videos and multimedia content). The new technology, however, is not yet secure and Google engineers are working to improve it. In the meantime, efforts are focused on improving the Messages app.
From an image posted online, the Mountain View company is working on a new interface for Messages, in order to make it easier to use features that have been “hidden” until now. In fact, already now users can send messages using their Internet connection, or voice notes and images (you need to press the “+” button in the lower left corner and then click on the microphone icon). Unfortunately, the interface is not very clear and this penalizes the spread of the app.
In the image appeared online, the icon of the voice notes is present directly next to the space where you can enter the text message. This makes it much easier for users to send voice messages, one of the most popular features on WhatsApp, especially among young people.
Google to the conquest of messaging apps
There are two areas in which Google has never been able to excel: social networks and messaging apps. If in the first case it has almost lost hope, despite the fact that every now and then it launches some new platform (the latest in order of time is Shoelace), on messaging apps it is still convinced it can “steal” users from WhatsApp and interrupt Facebook’s dominance. The Messages app is just the latest of many “experiments” made in Google: we’ll see in the coming years if the Mountain View company has finally managed to hit the jackpot.