Google released an updated version of Hangouts for Android on April 21, Monday, with Version 2.1 including a triad of new features including merged SMS and Hangouts messages, simplified contacts and a homescreen widget.
Following Apple's approach with iMessages, Google has announced that users of the new Hangouts will finally be able to merge SMS and Hangouts conversations on Android phones and tablets. They can send messages either through text or chat "with the flip of a switch," with the messages appearing in one conversation list.
"Different message types will be easy to tell apart in the conversation," wrote Google engineer Mike Dodd on Google+.
Users can tell whether a sent item is an SMS or a Hangouts message through color coding. SMS messages are in white while chat messages are in green. It is, however, harder to tell if a received message was sent via SMS or Hangouts, with only a small "via SMS" label included next to the time stamp.
Users can also unmerge their SMS and Hangouts conversations if they wish to, according to Dodd.
Version 2.1 also contains a simplified contact list that is designed to make it easier for users to find their contacts and send text messages. The new list contains only two sub-lists - People You Hangout With and Phone Contacts.
Google also added a homescreen widget for users who want to access their conversations at a single tap.
"Today's update includes better quality video calls, as well as improved SMS and MMS reliability," Dodd also wrote.
In November 2013, Google launched Hangouts for Android 2.0, a much more anticipated update that included SMS and MMS support, animated GIFs, one-tap location sharing and device and mood sharing.
Still, users have nothing to write off with the latest update, with some experts saying Hangouts is now "almost better than iMessages."
"Google can best iMessages if its app comes to computers and to iOS. The company has a history of working across all platforms, including iOS, Mac and Windows, something Apple is unlikely to do," wrote Matt Swider of TechRadar.
iMessages is Apple's instant messaging service designed to work across Apple's full range of devices, including its computers. This makes it particularly convenient for users who prefer to work on computers instead of phones and tablets.
Google will gradually roll out the latest Hangouts for Android over the coming week. Users will be able to download the new version from the Google Play Store.
