Google has made end-to-end encrypted messaging available in one of its most popular Android apps. Now only chat members will be able to see encrypted content in Messages without special keys.
As you know, earlier the priority of the Messaging application was the exchange of SMS and MMS, but now its capabilities have expanded significantly — communication is available in text messenger mode with the ability to attach images and other multimedia files, as well as other functions.
Using the RCS protocol ensures secure information exchange.
Beta testers started evaluating the new functionality since November last year, and it is now available to all smartphone owners. It is important to note that to use it, you need to enable the chat function in the program settings and ensure a connection to the Internet using Wi-Fi or a mobile network.
It is noteworthy that messaging with end-to-end encryption will not be available in the absence of an Internet connection, when exchanging "classic" SMS and MMS messages, as well as when participating in group chats.
Encrypted messages will be marked with a lock and a dark blue color in the feed.
The Google Messages app will be able to pin conversations and tag individual messages
Over the past few months, the Google Messages app, which is the main means of sending messages on Android smartphones, has received a number of useful features.
According to Internet sources, the developers have no intention of stopping the development of this product and soon the application will receive several new features, including the ability to pin conversations to the top of the list and mark individual messages.
Enthusiasts studied the code of Google Messages 8.1.050 and found in it an indication of the rapid appearance of the previously mentioned functions. The first innovation involves the possibility of pinning individual conversations at the top of the list. This will make it easier for users to interact with their favorite conversations because they will always be visible.
At the moment, the message code mentions the ability to pin up to three conversations at the top of the list, but this may change by the time this feature is officially available.
Along with the conversation pinning feature, enthusiasts found references to another useful tool in the code. We are talking about the ability to mark individual messages, such as some important messages that may be useful in the future. When the user wants, he can easily find such messages using search. It can be assumed that all the messages in question will have an asterisk.
It should be noted that these features are currently unavailable to users of stable versions of Google Messages. It is still unknown when exactly the developers plan to launch them.
