Posted: 3/26/2017 10:35:32 PM EDT
I've been a Hangouts user forever. What I liked about it is that it would merge messages and SMS, but then Google got the great idea to stop that. Not only that, but they just announced that they were dropping SMS support from Hangouts too. Thanks for nothing, jerks. 
So now you're left with a plethora of messaging apps which you have to choose from. The problem is that they generally support either SMS or RCS, but not both. And then there are desktop apps that make it all the better for when you want to bang out a message from your computer. And getting everyone to use the same app so you can ditch SMS is a non-starter too. Allo - Google can go suck a dick with this app. It includes Google Assistant, but it doesn't really handle SMS, you can't use it on more than one device, and it has no desktop app. Not only that, but unlike other RCS messaging programs, they split out video into yet another app. Seriously - WTF? WhatsApp - Very good program, has desktop integration, no SMS support. Quite a few people use, but of course that's still only a fraction of my contact list. Android Messaging - SMS only, ho hum. Signal - Does SMS and RCS, no desktop app, very good encryption features (not that I care about the NSA seeing my cat pictures). Facebook Messenger - Does SMS as far as I know, also has desktop support through Facebook. What are you guys using? |
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I use and love Textra, but I only use/need it for SMS. Doesn't sound like it's what you want.
I used to use Google Talk years ago for Gchat and loved it. When they went to Hangouts, seemed like the popularity died off. And in my opinion with good reason, I hated what they did with Hangouts. |
| I was primarily using Facebook Messenger which also integrates sms. But I got tired of getting confused sending messages to folks not sure if I was using sms or the Facebook side of the app. I still have it for people I don't have a phone# for, but I went back to Googles Android Messages. I need to check Signal. |
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Google Voice
The nice part is you get to pick your own phone number (if you want) and you can make it ring any and all phones you have even at the same time if you want. Recently the new version has been tightly integrated with Android and IMO is now a superior product. |
| I almost exclusively use WhatsApp with the exception of a couple of friends who do not have it and still send regular texts. I communicate with quite a few people overseas for business and some friends and they all use WhatsApp...Europe, Asia, Latin America, all over, they all use it. It's become pretty much universal across the globe. It is extremely user friendly as well. I can't recommend it enough. |
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Textra without question is the best Android SMS app for standard text messaging, notifications, etc. and it runs very fast |
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I use and love Textra, but I only use/need it for SMS. Doesn't sound like it's what you want. I used to use Google Talk years ago for Gchat and loved it. When they went to Hangouts, seemed like the popularity died off. And in my opinion with good reason, I hated what they did with Hangouts. 
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Currently using this, as its what my android buddy uses. I dont care for it. the pop up adds are annoying as fuck. God I miss my Iphone. Android is unpolished betaware crap. Quoted:
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I use and love Textra, but I only use/need it for SMS. Doesn't sound like it's what you want. I used to use Google Talk years ago for Gchat and loved it. When they went to Hangouts, seemed like the popularity died off. And in my opinion with good reason, I hated what they did with Hangouts. I'm using Project Fi on a Google Pixel. Tried installing Signal, but it can't get the verification SMS message, even when I set Signal to the default app. Probably won't work since Fi essentially takes over where Google Voice worked. |
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Currently using this, as its what my android buddy uses. I dont care for it. the pop up adds are annoying as fuck. God I miss my Iphone. Android is unpolished betaware crap. |
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Yeah, this whole messaging app shit with Google is fucking silly. I'm on Fi, and I've been using Hangouts because it just works for SMS/MMS and has a desktop app that's part of Chrome. If they make it not work, I'll be pissed. I'm tagging this thread... |