Will Google / Android ever have an iMessage type app ?

[LovingTeddy]

If Apple offered iMessage for Android, I would switch to Android tomorrow. That and consistent, timely iOS updates are the only things that have kept me on iPhone for the last 2-3 years. I really, really want out of the walled garden but my entire extended family and most friends use Apple devices and I would be completely out of the loop as I couldn't convince all my friends/family to install/use something like WhatsApp. Heck, many of my family members would be completely flummoxed if they tried to master a new and different messaging app as they can barely navigate iMessage (LOL).

I understand why Apple doesn't release iMessage for Android - it's to keep people like me from switching away from their very overpriced hardware. There would be some benefits for Apple in making iMessage universal, especially with the new iMessage payments feature in iOS 11 and sticker packs, etc., just not enough to counteract the loss in hardware and app sales for those iPhone users who would then jump to Android.

I really don't care about iMessage. If my family and friends uses iMeesage then that is good for them. They can text me like they would text others. The only thing I care is WeChat and thank god it is cross platformm I hate wall gardened OS. I have no interest in ever going back to iPhone.

 

[jr866gooner]

Google should absorb what's app and have it interact with iMessage !

 

[Sounds Good]

Google should absorb what's app and have it interact with iMessage !

Too late. Facebook.

 

[mib1800]

I really don't care about iMessage. If my family and friends uses iMeesage then that is good for them. They can text me like they would text others. The only thing I care is WeChat and thank god it is cross platformm I hate wall gardened OS. I have no interest in ever going back to iPhone.

Yep. Imessage treats non-apple users as second class citizens by relegating their usage to SMS. Not sure why anyone wanted to defend such discriminatory practice of iMessage.

 

[MrX8503]

Yep. Imessage treats non-apple users as second class citizens by relegating their usage to SMS. Not sure why anyone wanted to defend such discriminatory practice of iMessage.

That's the beauty of iMessage. It works even if the recipient doesn't have iMessage.

It's very difficult to get people to install a messaging app when the native one is right there.

 

[mib1800]

That's the beauty of iMessage. It works even if the recipient doesn't have iMessage.

It's very difficult to get people to install a messaging app when the native one is right there.

My S8+ came with whatsapp pre-installed. (In other regions, maybe Line, Kakao, WeChat are pre-installed). Just need to click on icon and it'll auto setup and you are good to go. I dont see what's the big deal and hassle that you need to fall back to cellular SMS.

 

[Sounds Good]

That's the beauty of iMessage. It works even if the recipient doesn't have iMessage. It's very difficult to get people to install a messaging app when the native one is right there.

^^^ THIS!

 

[LovingTeddy]

That's the beauty of iMessage. It works even if the recipient doesn't have iMessage.

It's very difficult to get people to install a messaging app when the native one is right there.

I don't see the beauty about it. If someone use, say WeChat, and I don't have WeChat, will just use defaults text massaging app.

I rather have a little complication than lock in wall gardened. And I don't have to deal with the headache with deregistering iMessage.

 

[lcs101]

I don't see the beauty about it. If someone use, say WeChat, and I don't have WeChat, will just use defaults text massaging app.

I rather have a little complication than lock in wall gardened. And I don't have to deal with the headache with deregistering iMessage.

Personally I'd find it annoying to go back and forth between two different messaging apps. Still would like to see SMS fallback on apps like Whatsapp or Allo.

 

[lazard]

That's the beauty of iMessage. It works even if the recipient doesn't have iMessage.

It's very difficult to get people to install a messaging app when the native one is right there.

Difficult for the US market, second nature to almost every other market.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Personally I'd find it annoying to go back and forth between two different messaging apps. Still would like to see SMS fallback on apps like Whatsapp or Allo.

You would running into samilar situation where of a person use WhatsApp rather than iMessage. Regardless, you would still need flip between apps.

 

[hallux]

That's the beauty of iMessage. It works even if the recipient doesn't have iMessage.

It's very difficult to get people to install a messaging app when the native one is right there.

This is what Google tried to do when integrating SMS into Hangouts. It failed, as Google has now removed SMS support from Hangouts for all but those who use Project Fi.

 

[lcs101]

You would running into samilar situation where of a person use WhatsApp rather than iMessage. Regardless, you would still need flip between apps.

If Whatsapp had SMS fallback in the same way iMessage does (for sending and receiving), I wouldn't. I would only use Whatsapp.

 

[MrX8503]

I don't see the beauty about it. If someone use, say WeChat, and I don't have WeChat, will just use defaults text massaging app.

I rather have a little complication than lock in wall gardened. And I don't have to deal with the headache with deregistering iMessage.

That's wechat and WhatsApp fault for not supporting the SMS fallback. It's best practice to support the lowest technology as a fallback.

 

[Sundance84]

If Whatsapp had SMS fallback in the same way iMessage does (for sending and receiving), I wouldn't. I would only use Whatsapp.

This is the issue. It's not necessarily if the app communicates with iMessage. It's that no apps on Android communicate "like" iMessage. If Allo had PC integration (reliable, like iMessage on a Mac) and defaulted to SMS automatically when the other use doesn't have the client, then that would solve the issue.

Allo is an amazing app. And I prefer messaging on it compared to iMessage, but I don't want to switch to another app when I realize someone doesn't have the app. Google should also make Allo default messaging on all Android phones.

I would probably pick up the Pixel 2 if that happened, but until it does, I will stay on iPhone.

 

[Technarchy]

Not sure why this is complicated for some people.

Just use another messaging app.

I promise it’s neither hard or rocket science.

I use Android all the time, and an iPhone. Somehow I manage not to get completely ostracized in the process.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Not sure why this is complicated for some people.

Just use another messaging app.

I promise it’s neither hard or rocket science.

I use Android all the time, and an iPhone. Somehow I manage not to get completely ostracized in the process.

I think the problem is getting other people to use other apps. Some contacts are either unwilling or unable to use other apps no matter how much you try and facilitate or encourage it. My mum and cousin refuse to use anything else but iMessage. My younger cousin went to Australia to work and travel. We set up a what’s app group chat so we could all keep in contact with her. She has an android phone. Well my mum and older cousin could not get on with what’s app. In the end the younger cousin had to get an iPad so the group chat could continue.

 

[Technarchy]

I think the problem is getting other people to use other apps. Some contacts are either unwilling or unable to use other apps...

I believe this is where the misstep happens. The expectation that others should change.

Social networks and messaging apps besides iMessage are common. You accommodate the person you want to talk to. Might be instagram, FB messenger, Skype, Snapchat, Allo...etc etc. You determine what they use and speak to them that way. I have a friend that I talk to over Yelp because that’s what they prefer.

I learned back when I purchased the Galaxy S6 that it was simpler to accommodate people than send everyone an invite for messaging app XYZ.

Haven’t had a problem since.

 

[throwthedice]

I think the only issue is that a lot of people especially in the US are set to use iPhones and imessage. There is no way to bring them to use other or a secondary app.

You do not see this problem in some of the other countries as the folks there were not pretty much "brought up" on iPhones.

As someone above said, to a lot of people, using multiple messaging clients is second nature but there in lies the beauty of imessage- it's one single app that does iMessage and text. I don't think there is anything that matches up to that.

I agree using multiple apps is easy but it's not necessarily easier than using just one app that happens to just work.

I use WhatsApp and imessage. A lot of my colleagues have iPhones and therefore we "group text" on imessage. Sometimes we've to add someone to the convo and if they don't have an iPhone, the message delivery is a little unreliable - not sure for whose fault that is but that's where we are.

So now we've actually started a group on WhatsApp - but the transition itself was a little painful (esp with some of the slightly less tech savvy people).

 

[Dodgeman]

I can see the valitidy of imessage even though I don’t use it.
Either way though if people switch to an android based device, then keep and iPad around for iMessage still.

 

[AustinIllini]

Answering SMS messages on my computer is the one thing I'm going to miss. I'm still not going to get locked into iOS over it, though.

 

[Dodgeman]

Answering SMS messages on my computer is the one thing I'm going to miss. I'm still not going to get locked into iOS over it, though.

Everyone likes their messages carrying over to multiple devices?

 

[Zaft]

This is a very region specific issue. United States is very IOS heavy, but those who use Android use regular SMS or Facebook messenger.
But What I notice is people dont care because SMS is free here. Europe still charges for SMS if im not mistaken?

So in my experience its either iMessage, facebook or good ol' SMS. Thats why iMessage is great with its SMS fall back.

 

[tbayrgs]

Everyone likes their messages carrying over to multiple devices?

Maybe not everyone but I sure do. Being able to easily receive, read and respond to a message from whatever device I’m looking at is something place quite a lot of value on and one reason I stick with Apple hardware. My regular conversations are almost all with other iPhone users though so I see more benefit than someone else who may rely more heavily on third party messaging solutions.

 

[AustinIllini]

Everyone likes their messages carrying over to multiple devices?

Uh yeah. I can leave my phone wherever in my house if I have my mac with me.