Google mulling an Android messaging application like BBM and iMessage
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Android Market has a number of messaging applications that allow you to exchange files and media, video chat or call mobile and landline numbers, but besides Google Talk, which is somewhat limited compared to these 3rd party apps, there hasn't been a system-wide messaging system. Skype is pretty popular, but now that Microsoft acquired it, Google might be looking into taking its own offerings to the next level.
There are a lot of tantrums thrown in these days how these smartphone platform messaging apps are going to kill one of the carriers' cash cows - text messaging, and it was not until Apple announced iMessage that everyone started pronouncing texting, BBM, and other means of communication dead.
You still need the carriers to provide your data, though, and they can just raise the package price to compensate for all those things you will be doing via the Internet, plus it's premature to announce an extremely popular network like BBM dead, not to mention the mountains of feature phones that will keep on texting for a good while. Still, a systemwide messaging solution for Android that allows file and media exchange, plus text, voice and video group chat, would be a great addition to Ice Cream Sandwich, for instance. Combine it with Google Voice, and the challenge for carriers might be guaranteed this time.
via WSJ
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28 Comments
1. jroc74 posted on 10 Jun 2011, 06:47 0 0
They might as well....I know they dont wanna feel left out.
17. jroc74 posted on 10 Jun 2011, 10:50 0 0
Well....seems I didnt know Google already had something similar. I never used Google Talk so I didnt know...lol
22. AndroidTroll posted on 10 Jun 2011, 13:19 1 0
What's wrong with Google Talk? It's great! You can even chat from your phone to people's computers. Plus with Android 2.3.4 it has Google Video Chat built in. I video chat with my dad from my CM7 Evo while he is on his desktop PC.
23. jroc74 posted on 10 Jun 2011, 16:27 0 0
Nothings wrong with it...I just never used it or any apps like that on my phone. I barely use the camera.
25. E.N. posted on 11 Jun 2011, 16:34 0 0
I'm just loving the double standard here. When Apple gets a feature similar to BBM, all hell breaks loose and people are complaining like crazy. But when Google gets it, it's "Oh, oh well. We already have Google Talk so this addition is fine
2. PhoneLuver posted on 10 Jun 2011, 07:01 7 0
It's just another IM app. I don't know why everyone is trying to create their own version of BBM? The biggest hassle with BBM is that it's not cross-platform compliant!
I'm using whatsapp at the moment and it's great! I use it on my Blackberry and on my iPhone and I can comunicate with friends using Nokia and Android devices.
Only pain is that it doesn't work on the iPad..
Personally, I'm just getting fed up of having so many accounts to maintain. (Skype, gtalk, viber, BBM, whatsapp)
5. clevername posted on 10 Jun 2011, 07:29 1 4
It seems IOS has solved the cross platform problem. Or at least creates a seamless workaround...its built into the existing messages app. So u use the same app for SMS, mms, and imessage to communicate to everyone you know whether they have an idevice or not. And you don't even have to slide a switch or press a button, its automatic. So maybe not truly cross platform, it hides it well, but more versatile than BBM to be sure. My question is, instead of imessage, why wasn't ichat just incorporated? They could've given it the same functionality, but it would also be able to connect to Macs using ichat. At least this is what made sense to me.
26. Lucas777 posted on 12 Jun 2011, 12:59 1 0
idk i like how wp7 did this... they incoperated text, im, and facebook... what more ways shud there be? and it is all one seamless conversation
29. protozeloz posted on 13 Jun 2011, 07:23 0 0
yeah and if Im not mistaken Blur, sense and touchwiz do that in a similar way...
3. protozeloz posted on 10 Jun 2011, 07:26 0 0
if its compatible with any smartphone then I'm interested why leave my cross platform app like whatsapp for an exclusive app? people want the apps to share info and stuff with friends regardless of their smartphone of choice
also SMS and MMS have being dead for me, I only text people with dumb phones witch are becoming more rare every day
4. toottoot (unregistered) posted on 10 Jun 2011, 07:29 1 1
I'm actually flying with a Virgin from America!
6. odemata (unregistered) posted on 10 Jun 2011, 07:39 1 1
So what is Gtalk then? Isn't it available on BB, iPhone (unofficial), WeboS, and Nokia? Why not just oh um say...update it with some newer features such as file transfers? Invest in what you already have and make it better. Maybe they should change the name of Google voice to Talk and Talk to Chat or IM and just work with that.
7. dandirk (unregistered) posted on 10 Jun 2011, 08:21 2 1
yeah I just don't get it... They have gtalk... most of my friends have a google account so it works for me.
Even if they make a google messenger, it still will have to be connected to either your phone number or google account. Both duplicating functions most people already have and still limiting via cross-platform.
GTalk already is pretty much available on everything... so whats the point really? They should just build in support for more im services.
Personally I never got into the BBM... needed peoples id codes and junk, not cross platform... not worth it for me.
8. Leroy (unregistered) posted on 10 Jun 2011, 08:47 1 1
Isn't it called google talk? Works cross platform, and well integrated in android phones.
9. Sniggly posted on 10 Jun 2011, 08:49 1 1
Okay, I understand wanting to make Google talk more robust...so just male Google Talk more robust. No need to develop an entirely new messaging app.
10. taco50 (banned) posted on 10 Jun 2011, 08:51 2 4
I wonder what the fanboys have to say after bashing Apple for stealing/copying imessage
12. ryan (unregistered) posted on 10 Jun 2011, 09:39 3 1
you mean gtalk and imessage copying bbm right?
15. Owlet posted on 10 Jun 2011, 10:48 4 2
You start looking pathetic, taco. It's not funny anymore. Forget about "copying" anything, take my advice, think of something new ("smart").
16. jroc74 posted on 10 Jun 2011, 10:49 2 0
I take it you are not reading the comments about Google Talk that were right above yours...
Had I ever used Google Talk I wouldnt have made my first comment...
11. hhaa (unregistered) posted on 10 Jun 2011, 09:16 3 1
google should just purchase whatsapp for a few million, sorted.
19. protozeloz posted on 10 Jun 2011, 11:06 1 0
agreed as long as they deliver a true cross platform app that works on any smartphone
13. rwolf1984 posted on 10 Jun 2011, 10:21 3 0
i think they have one...its called google talk...lol
20. nimo posted on 10 Jun 2011, 12:32 1 1
Isn't Liveprofile a true cross platform messenger you even get a BBM pin with it so people can talk with you on your Iphone and Android.
21. protozeloz posted on 10 Jun 2011, 12:54 1 1
whatsapp is better than life profile you dont need to remember pin or something just add them as phone contact and you are good to go
28. stinkiphone99 (unregistered) posted on 13 Jun 2011, 02:42 0 0
Btw, just curious how many percentage of all phone user in the whole wide world use iMessege or BBM to replace thier sms service??? 0.01%??
