Google Messages beta code hints at future support for iMessage reactions

A new update to Google Messages hints at a new feature designed to better handle iMessage reaction messages.

Most iPhone users have run across Apple's reaction feature within the Messages app. By tapping and holding a message, a user can "react," placing a heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, laughter, exclamation point, or question mark on the message. If the recipient has an iPhone, they'll see the reaction as intended.

This isn't the case, however, if the recipient happens to be on an Android phone. Instead of a reaction, Android users will see something similar to "[User] loved [entire text message]."

As one could imagine, this can become bothersome, especially in group chats with iPhone users who frequently react to messages.

However, this may change, soon. New code discovered by 9to5Google suggests that Google Messages will soon be showing iMessage reactions as emoji.

The code features a line that reads "ios_reaction_classifcation" followed by "Show iPhone Reactions as emoji."

The feature is not currently implemented in the new beta, so Google is still likely working on it.

In July, Verizon announced that it would bring RCS — Rich Communications Service — messaging support to Android users in 2022.

The RCS protocol will allow for rich messaging features on Android akin to the kind seen in Apple's iMessage. That includes chatting over Wi-Fi, end-to-end encryption, dynamic group chats, and read receipts — all provided through the Messages by Google app.

11 Comments

mobird 758 comments · 20 Years

About 3 years ago

Is the RCS protocol already implemented on the other carriers at this time and Verizon is just late to the party?

DangDave 98 comments · 8 Years

mobird said:

Is the RCS protocol already implemented on the other carriers at this time and Verizon is just late to the party?

RCS with the Universal Profile is now being rolled out by US carriers on a manufacturer by manufacturer basis. Verizon has its own chat service within the carrier which will go away as it switches to the universal profile. France, the UK, and other countries have already been rolling it out.

In June 2019, Google announced that it would begin to deploy RCS on an opt-in basis via the Messages app (branded as chat features), with service compliant with the RCS Universal Profile and hosted by Google rather than each user's carrier. Initial rollout will be within each carrier but eventually should be cross-carrier.

harrykatsaros 89 comments · 8 Years

Apple are fools for not rolling out iMessage to Android. Apple had a full decade to take advantage of iMessage with plenty of opportunity to turn it into the ubiquitous global standard for instant messaging and now that opportunity is gone. RCS was inevitable and now the competitive advantage of iMessage will slowly but surely dissipate.

IreneW 307 comments · 7 Years

mobird said:

Is the RCS protocol already implemented on the other carriers at this time and Verizon is just late to the party?

At least in Europe this has been working for a while.
If only Apple could get their act together, we could finally get rid of the Facebook and WhatsApp mess for cross-platform group texting.

crowley 10431 comments · 15 Years

harrykatsaros said:

Apple are fools for not rolling out iMessage to Android. Apple had a full decade to take advantage of iMessage with plenty of opportunity to turn it into the ubiquitous global standard for instant messaging and now that opportunity is gone. RCS was inevitable and now the competitive advantage of iMessage will slowly but surely dissipate.

What would the competitive advantage have been if Apple had made it a global standard? Apple don’t make any money from iMessage, it’s biggest value to Apple is the lock-in effect.