Google Messages celebrates one billion monthly active RCS users with seven new features،
Google Messages, the default messaging app for Pixel and other Android devices, has reached a major milestone, surpassing 1 billion monthly active users with RCS enabled. This milestone marks a major step in the adoption of RCS, a modern messaging standard that provides a more advanced and secure texting experience compared to outdated SMS and MMS protocols. RCS brings a host of improvements to the texting experience, including typing indicators, read receipts, threaded replies, high-quality media sharing, improved group chats, and better privacy with features like than end-to-end encryption. To celebrate this new milestone, the company thanked its partners and users for adopting RCS, and announcement that it introduces seven new features to the Messages app: Photomoji, voice moods, screen effects, custom bubbles, reaction effects, animated emoji and profiles.
Photomoji: turn photos into expressive reactions
Photomoji lets users turn their favorite photos into reactions using Google’s in-device AI. Simply select a photo, choose the object you want to turn into a Photomoji and send it. These creations can be saved for later use, and your friends can even use your Photomojis in group chats.
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Vocal ambiances and improved audio quality
Voice Moods add a touch of personality to voice messages by incorporating nine different emotions. Choose from heart-eye emoji, fireballs or party poppers to express your feelings alongside your voice message. Additionally, audio quality has been improved with increased bitrate and sample rate.
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Screen effects
With Screen Effects, messages are transformed into dazzling visual displays. Type specific phrases like “it’s snowing” or “I love you” to trigger vibrant animations on the screen. Explore with friends to discover 15+ hidden screen effects prompt words.
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Custom bubbles
Custom Bubbles allow users to customize the bubble color and backgrounds of individual conversations. Choose different colors for each chat, eliminating the limitations of blue and green bubbles. This helps differentiate conversations and avoid sending messages to the wrong person.
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Feedback effects
Reaction effects bring more life to conversations. You’ll be able to react to a message with a simple thumbs-up emoji and a trio of animated hands dancing around the message bubble. This feature adds a fun and expressive touch to chats with the following ten popular emoji: ️ .
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Animated emoji
Animated Emoji takes expressions to the next level by adding captivating visual effects to every message. For example, send a sparkly pink heart to express your excitement when a friend shares your vacation plans.
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Profiles
With Profiles, users can personalize their profile name and photo associated with their phone number. This helps identify you in Google services, which will be particularly useful in group chats, especially if that particular phone number is not saved in your contacts.
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These new features are rolling out today to Messages beta users and will be available to all users soon. If you’re not yet using Messages on your Android device, you can download the app from the Google Play Store and sign up to become a beta tester if you want to be one of the first to experience these new features and the improved email experience powered by RCS.
