Messages for Web is live for everyone, and it is perfectly practical and simple
- Kell Claar
- Jun 26, 2018
- 2 min read
Messages for Web is finally live for all, and it is as simple as can be.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced the "Your Phone" app which would allow Android phone users to mirror their phone on a Windows PC. The main draw of this app, as I detailed back when it was announced, was that individuals would finally be able to text from their computers. This was seen as a welcomed feature for those that still relied on SMS communication as despite having web interfaces, WhatsApp and Allo did not work with SMS.
Not to be outdone, Google, shortly after, detailed not only its plan for messaging standards, but also its upcoming Messages for Web feature. Much like WhatsApp, the web interface would allow you to send messages directly from the web thus eliminating the need to continually check your phone while working on a PC.
While the feature had been teased months ago, we now have the green light. Beginning last week, Google began to roll out the update last week which has now been confirmed to be live for all, and I am happy to say it works quite well.
Using Messages for Web is as easy as can be. To use the feature, you simply go to the https://messages.android.com/ From there, you simply open Messages, click on the 3-dots in the upper right hand corner, and select "Messages for Web". Finally, just click to scan the QR code, scan the code, and you are good to go; it is the same basic process as WhatsApp and Allo.
While it is certainly not a new feature for messaging platforms, it is a welcome one for Android Messages users. While iMessage has had this same functionality for awhile, its usability is substantially limited. Unlike iMessage, this feature is browser-dependent and not OS-dependent meaning this feature can be used on any browser on any device unlike the MacOS/iOS-needy iMessage. In addition, its SMS/MMS support helps it be much more user-friendly than WhatsApp and Allo while its carrier-independent (and quality) make it much more dependable than Verizon Messages.
As a formed Windows Phone user, I have a strong fondness for the ability to text from a PC. While it may not be exactly like the Cortana integration that I enjoyed with my Lumia Icon, it certainly provides the same flexibility. I encourage all Android Message users to check it out.
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