Them having a G+ page is irrelevant. If they have a Google account, that's what matters. If they have a gmail, youtube, or any other Google account, then they are already there. If a person is using an Android phone, then 9/10, they already are using a Google account.
Why are you bringing up G+?
Oh, I don't know, maybe because much of the function rumored functionality presently existings within G+. As quoted in the recent
Verge article..
...rumors have been swirling that Google is working on a cross-platform messaging service called Babel that will tie together all of its existing communication products, from Google Talk and Hangouts to Voice and Google+ Messenger
My point was that if people aren't using it now, what is going to make them use it in the future, and thus make it a worthwhile app?
And as many have been stating in this thread already, if it's not integrated into a single Messaging app in Android (that would include SMS if the user doesn't have Babel), it's barely different than having to open any number of existing secondary messaging apps, i.e. Facebook.
I admittedly don't know much about Babel so I understand I'm possibly way off the mark. If they could integrate all of the existing Google services 'messaging' functionality into a single platform/app AND integrate SMS for those users that don't have Babel functionality, in my eyes it would be a killer app, especially as it appears there will be iOS compatibility (vs. iMessage only being available to iOS users). And apparently, I'm not alone in this line of thought. Again, for the linked Verge article...
...but there’s one core Apple advantage in the messaging space that Babel might not match out of the gate, and that’s integration with your existing SMS service. That could change if rumors of Google Voice integration down the road are true, but the omission would single-handedly keep Babel from becoming a pure iMessage replacement for many, regardless of whatever other niceties Babel brings to the table.
) or social network messaging.
