Google Messages is beginning to roll out full emoji reactions for some users, according to a report by 9to5Google. The popular text-messaging app is testing the ability to react with any emoji you want.
Anyone who has been using RCSchat system has probably used message reactions, which allow you to swiftly respond with an emoji. For now, Google just offers a rudimentary seven:👍 😍 😂 😮 😥 😠 and 👎.
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a communication protocol between mobile telephone carriers and between phone and carrier, aiming at replacing SMS messages with a text-message system that is richer, provides phonebook polling (for service discovery), and can transmit in-call multimedia. It’s meant to replace SMS, offering a richer experience, but it hasn’t gained much traction.
During an analysis of the Messages app in September, 9to5Google identified a framework for replying to texts with any emoji you desired, replacing the thumbs-down in that list with a shortcut to an emoji picker.
Furthermore, with the most recent beta release of Messages (now hosted on APKMirror), this feature is now being made available to a small subset of users.
It works just like you would long-press a message to react to it using an emoji, which you find in other messaging apps like WhatsApp, and Telegram (premium version).
When selecting an emoji to react, there will be an emoji face with a plus icon that, when long-pressed, will give you a free range to select all emoji available.
“Recently used reactions will appear in the top row, but it’s unclear whether it will eventually replace the seven defaults,” 9to5Google says in its report.
The new update may or may not work well because of differences in smartphone capabilities between users exchanging texts. However, if both parties are using RCS—preferred Google’s substitute for SMS—there shouldn’t be issues.
There’s still an opportunity for you to be part of the Beta testers. All you need to do is to visit this link to accept Google’s invitation. You’ll receive an update to the Messages app if you already have it installed on your device.
If you don’t have the Messages app installed, download it on Google Play. Note that it can take a while for you to receive the update. Find out how you can add reactionsto text messages here.
