As rumored recently, Android Messages is finally coming to the web, letting users send text messages from the comfort of their web browser instead of reaching out for their phone. Users are also able to view any messages sent to their Android smartphone.
Android Messages for the web is starting to roll out to users and should reach everyone by next week, according to Google. Just like the mobile app, the web client supports texts, images, stickers, and more.
How To Use The Android Messages Web Client
To start using Android Messages for the web, open the Android Messages app on your Android smartphone. Then visit the Android Messages website, which should display a huge QR code. Tap the "More" options menu on the app, indicated by a vertical ellipsis, and select "Messages for web." Afterward, scan the QR code to pair the web client and app together. Google recommends users connect to Wi-Fi while using the web client, but it should still work even when using mobile data.
Unfortunately, the feature isn't live on the app yet at the time of writing, but as mentioned, Google ensures it's slowly rolling out to all users and should be widely available pretty soon.
Rich Communication Services
Putting Android Messages on the web is one of the first significant steps in Google's push toward Chat, the company's integration of the Rich Communication Services platform, or RCS, inside Android Messages.
By launching a web client, Google is signaling its willingness to compete with iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and many other feature-rich messaging clients. Allo, released in 2016, served as Google's respectable first attempt toward that goal but that didn't really catch on despite having many knockout features, including built-in Assistant implementation.
Android Messages, as The Verge notes, is Google's next best chance at success in the messaging race. Many carriers have pledged to support Chat and integrate RCS-related benefits, including reading receipts, typing indicators, high-resolution content, and more dynamic group texts. The only disadvantage of RCS is the fact that none of those aforementioned features are facilitated with end-to-end encryption, unlike WhatsApp and Signal.
If it's not already installed on your smartphone, Android Messages is available to download from the Play Store.
Thoughts about Android Messages coming to the web? Do you think Google has a shot at competing with other companies in the mobile messaging landscape, which seems to be currently dominated by Facebook and Apple? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
