Has the time arrived for Google Messages ?

This blog-post is all about messaging from one computing device to another.

There are a couple of basic protocols for message sending. The user of programs don't need to know about them, but if you're interested, here's a discussion of the basic texting protocol SMS and security.

https://www.howtogeek.com/709373/why-sms-text-messages-arent-private-or-secure/

There have been many texting/messaging apps (short for application programs), including those which emphasize ease of use and a nice UI (User Interface) and some which emphasize security like Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, iMessages (Apple), and others.

https://getstream.io/blog/most-secure-messaging-apps/

Some are owned by foreigners, some are more popular with kids, and some have been embroiled in security controversies.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/03/14/new-warning-issued-for-all-whatsapp-and-imessage-users-major-threat-to-encryption/

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/21/whatsapp-encryption-under-scrutiny-by-us-government.html

The changing corporate ownerships and the changing technologies or user agreements means there has NOT been any one in particular that has dominated the market. Recently a change of the user agreement has made WhatsApp users worry and the CEO of Tesla Corp, Elon Musk decided to promote Signal.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-11/why-whatsapp-s-privacy-rules-sparked-moves-to-rivals-quicktake

https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-signal/

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/what-is-signal-everything-you-need-to-know-about-elon-musks-app-recommendation/

Signal has a messaging app, but they also license use of their encryption technologies. Google has decided to use it. That leads me to introducing Google Messages.

For an introduction, here is the Wikipedia page for Google Messages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messages_(Google)

And here is the PlayStore link to Google Messages. I'm not endorsing it, only discussing it and introducing it to anyone who hasn't looked at texting apps or Google Messages in particular. In fact, I've just recently put it on my phone and haven't used it much yet.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en_US&gl=US

Studying these different apps, in particular to use on smart-phone, desktop PC, and tablet, I discovered a few interesting things. Aside from Google developing the RCS protocol, they also are now using the Signal encryption technology for end-to-end message security. It's applied automatically. However, Google has been struggling to get their many communications apps in good order. Here is an article describing some of that struggle with regard to their texting app Messages.

https://www.androidcentral.com/its-2021-and-googles-still-doing-bad-job-explaining-google-messages

Here's a video describing it too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8jxj9GQa3I

So, how will we know if Google Messages can become very popular? Well, there are many people who simply won't trust a large corporation with their privacy. Even the use of the Signal encryption technologies may not suffice to win them over. But, with other companies now struggling to hang onto their customers it may become possible for Google to have some success.