Google releases Messenger app in Google Play to handle SMS/ MMS
Google released a new standalone Messenger app on Google Play with Material Design and all new features that were missing from its stock SMS app, called Messaging in some iterations.
The Messenger app that comes pre-installed on Android 5.0 Lollipop can now be downloaded for devices running Android 4.1 and higher from Google Play. The app essentially works as standalone messaging app only, unlike Hangouts. It allows users to send and receive SMS and MMS (audio, video, pictures) messages. Just like the stock SMS app, Messenger also lets users search through contacts and conversation threads.
Apart from the new Material Design theme, the new Messenger app has brought a few new features that distinguish it from the stock SMS app and Hangouts. The app gives users more control with the new block feature that was missing in the SMS app. It also includes support for audio messages, emoticons, coloured text threads, message archiving and more. Notably, Google had replaced the stock SMS app with Hangouts in Android 4.4 KitKat.
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