The default app to send text messages on most Android smartphones has always been poor, with few essential functions. Luckily Google has moved things a bit, providing a specific app to send and receive SMS, which works well and is much more functional than other apps, certainly becoming the new standard, the app to use for SMS on Android.
On all Android smartphones, including Samsung Galaxy, LG, Huawei and others, they can install Google's new Android Messages application for free (remember that on Android, unlike iPhones, the SMS function is an app that can be chosen)
The new application can be installed for free by downloading it from the Google Play store by going to the Android Messages tab (previously it was Google Messenger).
The graphics of Android Messages is that of "Material Design", with a few buttons and the ability to send new SMS by pressing the + button at the bottom.
The strengths of this application, in addition to the very modern and fresh design, are:
1) The speed with which you can reply to a message, where you just have to open a conversation to write.
2) The ability to block certain numbers and prevent them from being able to send us SMS again.
To do this you need to open a message, touch the button at the top right with the three dots, press on " People and options " and touch on block number to blacklist it.
3) the function of swiping a message in the general list to the side in order to archive it so as to make it disappear from the list, without however deleting it.
To review the archived conversations, tap the button with the three dots at the top right.
4) A very efficient search function, as is normal when applications are developed by Google.
5) Integration with MMS, to send photos, videos or other files attached to the message.
Touching the three dots at the top you access the settings where you can activate or deactivate MMS.
Attaching a file to a message is really easy and just touch the paperclip button at the bottom left of the SMS writing screen.
Beware, however, that MMS are expensive and absolutely inconvenient.
6) Notification sounds customizable for each contact.
This can be done from the People and options menu, as per point 2.
7) Support for Emojis (smileys), both sending and receiving.
8) Support for sending and receiving GIF images
9) Preview of website links sent within conversations
10) Quick copy and paste when you receive passwords and verification codes sent via SMS.
11) Notifications in preview to read messages immediately and to reply without opening the app.
12) Site for using Android Messages via the web, useful for receiving notifications, sending and receiving SMS from the PC.
As an application, Google Android Messages is light, beautiful and very fluid, similar to Textra SMS which however is not free.
READ ALSO: best apps to send and receive SMS on Android .
