Know About New Google Chat Messaging for Android: A New Competition to Apple iMessage
Google is working on a new feature called “Google Chat” in an offer to compete with Apple iMessage. Previously, many messaging apps were released by the search engine giant. Now, with the upcoming of Google Chat Messaging for Android, the organization wants to narrow down the difference with iMessage of Apple in accordance with the users’ experience.
New Google Chat works on the technology named as RCS. RCS stands for Rich Communication Service, which is the latest level of the text SMS. To be very clear, it is not a new Chat app. It existed as a feature on most Android messages in the Android phones. It can be considered as the advanced version of SMS and will be updated automatically in the text messaging app of Android phone. Now, the question is what will happen if a user text a person who is not using Android or the Chat feature is not enabled? In that case, the message will be sent as the normal SMS.
It should be clearly noted that “Google Chat” is a not service provided by Google, rather it is a carrier-based service. The search engine giant is only working to make it better so that the Chat service of every carrier is compatible. Google works with some carriers, which are already supported by RCS messaging. The objective to work with these organizations is to introduce RCS to Android as the option of Chat feature. The advantage of using the RCS system is that it permits the users to communicate via multimedia, pictures, and stickers, on the condition that carriers support these features. However, Apple is yet to admit for RCS and give its assurance for user security and privacy, it is questionable that the iPhone maker would be curious about RCS technology.
The developer of New Google Chat will really have to work hard to make this Android messaging application as good and efficient as iMessage, Messenger, and Whatsapp to some extent. The search engine giant has four messaging applications, namely, Hangouts, Duo, Android Messages, and Allo. But, there were some limitations associated with these apps. Hence, the organization wanted to come up with such application which will be a center of attraction among the users.
There are many features which are similar to the competitor messaging service Whatsapp like an indication that the other person is typing, resolution videos and images, read receipts. The Chat will also contain a web client identical to Whatsapp. Furthermore, it will also have machine learning based Smart Reply feature of Google. It permits the users to click and access the anticipating response.
Drawbacks of Google Chat Feature
- Chat feature does not provide end-to-end encryption. This is the disappointment for many users as major Chat applications such as Whatsapp offers the encryption of data.
- The feature mainly relies on the telecom operators. Most of the services in Google Chat are based on carrier services. This makes it highly dependent on telecom companies and it is not sure whether they will support all the features or not.
Google Chat Messaging for Android Feature: A Boon For Cybercriminals
The decision of Google to launch the Chat service without end-to-end encryption is a great gift for government spies and cybercriminals. The conversations on Chat will not be shared over the internet but, on the mobile phone carriers like standard SMS.
Google paused the making of message application “Allo”, which has the feature of end-to-end encryption. Nowadays, many major applications such as Whatsapp, iMessage, etc., all have the data encryption facility. It is the minimum demand of the technology companies that the personal conversation should remain private. In data encryption, only the sender and receiver can view the message. Even the company which provides the service cannot access the data.
The Observational Verdict
New Google Chat is not a Google service. It is a carrier-based service to which Google is looking forward to change. Chat contains many features similar to Whatsapp. But, it does not contain an option of end-to-end encryption. This proves to be an advantage from the investigation point of view. Also, the Chat feature is highly dependent on telecom companies. It is under the control of telecom operators that which services of Chat are to be enabled.