Samsung discontinuing its texting app, tells users to switch to Google Messages

3 hours ago 2

Samsung is saying goodbye its namesake texting app

NEW YORK -- Samsung is saying goodbye its namesake texting app.

According to an extremity of work announcement published connected the tech giant's U.S. enactment website, Samsung Messages volition beryllium discontinued successful July. Impacted owners of Samsung smartphones and different gadgets are being asked to power to Google Messages successful the meantime, “to support a accordant messaging acquisition connected Android.”

All Samsung Galaxy phones tally connected Google's Android operating system. To power to Google Messages, Samsung's website gives users instructions to download the app from the Play Store, if not already connected their phone, and acceptable it arsenic the default. Some radical whitethorn besides person an in-app notification to usher them done the process.

Samsung says switching to Google Messages volition springiness users entree to updates similar the latest artificial quality features from Google's Gemini — which includes an experimental diagnostic called “Remix” to make images during conversations and AI-powered reply suggestions — and the quality to stock higher prime photos betwixt Android and Apple iOS devices done RCS-enabled messages.

Users of older Android operating systems (dating backmost to Android 11 oregon older) volition not beryllium impacted by the extremity of Samsung Messages, the institution noted. To cheque what Android OS you person connected a Samsung device, unfastened the settings app, click connected “software information” and scroll to “Android version.”

Meanwhile, owners of Samsung's latest Galaxy 26 lineup and different newer phones cannot download the Samsung Messages app from the Galaxy Store today.

All devices volition nary longer beryllium capable to download Samsung Messages aft it's officially discontinued successful July, the institution noted. Samsung said users tin cheque their app for the nonstop day for erstwhile work volition spell offline.

Beyond the U.S., Samsung did not instantly respond to a petition for further accusation astir whether its guidance for Samsung Messages was the aforesaid globally.