Android phone owners will soon be able to access text messages on their computer, with the company beginning to roll out Android Messages on the web.
Similar to the way WhatsApp works on the web, Android Messages users will browse to a website on their desktop, scan a QR code from their phones and then read, receive and send text messages.
Currently, only the website is live, but the necessary set-up method is yet to appear within the mobile app. Eventually, users will have to tap the “More options” menu and select “Messages for web” to enable the feature.
Right now, you can go to Messages.Android.com and see the website (via 9to5Google), but it doesn’t go beyond the screenshot below. This suggests Google isn’t quite ready to pull the trigger, but is putting the wheels in motion.
Google announced this feature back in April, and recent reports and APK teardowns have shed more light on the forthcoming “Chat” app.
It will be integrated with Google Assistant and while offering the Universal Profile for Rich Communication Services (RCS), making Android’s offering far more advanced than the current half-baked effort.
The company has been working with the major phone providers on the “Chat” service that would eventually replace SMS and finally allow Android users to enjoy a decent messaging service.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be the Apple iMessage clone most Android users would love.
Would you prefer Google to launch an all-singing, all-dancing iPhone clone? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
