Google unveils ‘Chat’ in an effort to compete with iMessage and Facebook Messenger

Google has unveiled its new messaging system, Chat, in an attempt to take on the likes of Apple’s iMessage and Facebook Messenger.

Chat is designed to replace SMS messages and comes equipped with a variety of  features not available when sending ordinary texts.

That includes group messages and the ability to attach or stream videos, and it will indicate when people are typing or have read your messages.

Chat will run via the Android Messages app, which already comes pre-installed on many Android devices and can be downloaded from Google Play.

The new format is based on the rich communication services (RCS) platform, which is poised to become the new standard for mobile messaging. 

If mobile operators adopt it widely, further features like WhatsApp style encrypted messages could become available through Android’s native messaging system.

 

Google has unveiled its new messaging system, Chat, in an attempt to take on the likes of Apple’s iMessage and Facebook Messenger. Chat has features not available when sending ordinary SMS texts such as group messages, videos, typing indicators and read receipts

Chat is the latest in a wave of messaging services launched by Google.

The Mountain View firm has said it is ‘pausing’ development of its previous messaging platform – Allo – which was launched two years ago.

Modern messaging apps such as Signal, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are known as over-the-top (OTT) services.

This means they send messages over the internet to get around mobile operators. 

Instead of launching yet another rival messaging app, Google is now trying to integrate the RCS into its Android operating system.

 Chat will run via the Android Messages app, which already comes pre-installed on many devices that run the Google backed operating system. This image shows an artist's impression of how it will look on a laptop like Google's Chromebook range

 Chat will run via the Android Messages app, which already comes pre-installed on many devices that run the Google backed operating system. This image shows an artist’s impression of how it will look on a laptop like Google’s Chromebook range

Chat uses RCS (artist's impression), a messaging standard designed to replace the short message standard (SMS) which has been in development since 2007, with the help of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) trade body

Chat uses RCS (artist’s impression), a messaging standard designed to replace the short message standard (SMS) which has been in development since 2007, with the help of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) trade body

RCS is designed to replace the short message standard (SMS) and has been in development since 2007, with the help of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) trade body.

Mobile operators, manufacturers and developers will be able to use it to create their own compatible messaging apps.

‘The GSMA has been working for almost a decade to foster broader adoption of RCS as a way to compete with third-party instant messaging and voice apps, but adoption over the years has been patchy,’ Raghu Gopal from CCS Insight told the Guardian.

‘If Google is able to establish its RCS client as a truly universal and usable client on Android devices globally, it may offer a way to reduce Facebook’s stranglehold on messaging services.

WHAT IS GOOGLE CHAT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Google Chat is the Mountain View firm’s new messaging system and is an attempt to take on the likes of Apple’s iMessage and Facebook Messenger.

Chat has features not available when sending ordinary SMS texts such as group messages, videos, typing indicators and ‘read’ receipts.

Users who want to use Chat will be able to download the Android Messages app that it runs on to any Android device.

However, Chat does not offer encrypted messages and it will be up to mobile operators to enable the service. 

Modern messaging apps such as Signal, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are known as over-the-top (OTT) services.

This means they send messages over the internet to get around mobile operators. 

Instead of launching yet another rival messaging app, Google is now trying to integrate a new messaging standard into Android’s operating system. 

Google’s Chat is based on something known as rich communication services (RCS).

This is designed to be a replacement of SMS (short message standard) and has been in development since 2007 with the help of the GSMA mobile operator trade body. 

Mobile operators, manufacturers and developers will be able to use the technology to create compatible messaging apps.

‘Google and operators must come to the realisation that it’s getting late in the game, and it will take something special to establish RCS as a global standard.’ 

Anil Sabharwal, Google’s lead on the project, told the Verge: ‘We don’t believe in taking the approach that Apple does [with iMessage]. 

‘We are fundamentally an open ecosystem. We believe in working with partners. We believe in working with our OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to be able to deliver a great experience.’ 

Unlike iMessage, RCS and Google’s Chat are not encrypted.

Google said it was 'pausing' development of its latest messaging platform - Allo - which was launched two years ago

Google said it was ‘pausing’ development of its latest messaging platform – Allo – which was launched two years ago

Google thinks it can succeed with Chat because of its Android Messages app, which is company’s default text message app.

It is included with the majority of smartphones not made by Samsung or Apple.

So far, Google has agreements to use the Chat app with 55 mobile phone operators.

US mobile giant Sprint and Rogers in Canada provides Chat functionality.

Microsoft and Samsung are also both supporting Chat. Apple, however has not signed up to the project. 

WHAT IS RICH COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Rich Communication Services (RCS) – also known as Advanced Communications, Joyn, and Message+ – is an instant messaging protocol intended to succeed SMS. 

It’s designed to offer a richer experience than its predecessor, including the ability for users to share their location and attach high-resolution still images, videos and audio to messages.

It also supports the use of Skype-like video and voice calls over the internet, as well as message encryption like WhatsApp.

Users can send and receive messages over Wi-fi and mobile data, rather than relying on traditional phone reception.

That makes messaging possible in places like underground rapid transport systems and other locations where mobile signal can be problematic. 

The platform was created in 2007 and was adopted by the GSM Association, the trade body that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, in 2008.

RCS’s spread depends on network carriers using it and making it compatible with their services, which is why it isn’t prevalent at present, but with firms like Google getting behind the communications standard, this could soon be about to change.



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