Google Messages has began letting some customers react with any emoji

Google has began letting some customers of its Messages app react to textual content messages with any emoji, as a substitute of limiting them to the usual set of seven which have been accessible within the app for some time now (via 9to5Google). The function’s much like what different messaging platforms like Slack, WhatsApp, and paid variations of Telegram have — urgent and holding on a message provides you the usual emoji reactions, however you may then entry the picker to react with no matter you need.

The expanded emoji reactions look like a restricted check at this level — 9to5Google says it’s heard two studies of it being rolled out, and whereas one particular person on The Verge’s workers has entry to it, two different individuals who checked don’t. Google didn’t instantly reply to The Verge’s request for touch upon the function.

As with any options which might be added to messaging companies, the additional reactions generally is a bit messy relying on who you’re texting, and what communications requirements their telephone helps. They appear to work wonderful if each events are utilizing RCS, the SMS alternative that Google’s been pushing for. My telephone doesn’t have entry to the prolonged picker but, however my colleague’s reactions confirmed up appropriately after I was utilizing Google’s Messages app.

Other configurations can get messy, although. On the identical telephone, which clearly helps RCS, Samsung’s Messages app reveals the response as a separate textual content message, saying “😱 to ‘Can you react to this message?’” The similar’s true when my colleague reacts to a textual content from an iPhone person, as these are SMS solely (a lot to Google’s chagrin).

That the reactions don’t translate to iPhones isn’t a shock. For one, Apple’s Tapback system solely permits you to use a particular set of symbols, so it’s unlikely the corporate’s Messages app has the power so as to add an arbitrary emoji to a message. Even if it did, who is aware of if it might; after years of Apple customers’ reactions displaying up as separate textual content messages for Android customers, it appeared as if the 2 corporations had labored out an answer, with iMessage’s and Google Message’s reactions translating between the 2 platforms. And but, after I examined it right this moment with the usual reactions, I used to be again to the identical outdated system of getting separate “[emoji] to [message]” texts as a substitute of beautifully-displayed reactions when messaging between an Android telephone and iPhone.

Regardless of no matter Apple and Google have occurring, I’m glad to see Google bringing this function to its texting platform, even when it’s actually solely elegant while you’re doing RCS chats. It’s a function I’ve all the time wished in all places, and it looks as if Google’s engaged on making that the case, a minimum of for the individuals utilizing its app.