Various questions about Android/Google messages

[ClaraStahlbaum]

I made another thread about Android as a whole some time ago and asked some questions in other threads about this but I decided to make a specific thread about this, specifically the integration between Android/Google messages and that of imessage. I an Iphone user currently.

- I am a Mac user, how well does Google messages with RCS integrate within the Apple Ecosystem? Would I be able to see my texts on my mac, in Imessage?

- Can I join pre-existent group chats with Google Messages with RCS in an already existent imessage chat, and would switching preserve my message history, contacts, etc?

- What is the difference between Samsung and Google Messages?

- How well does privacy between Google Messages and Imessage compare?

 

[AustinIllini]

For messages on your mac: there's a really clever way to do this: Use Chromium (or Chrome if you will) to make a Progressive Web App that behaves as an app on your desktop.

• Open the website in Chrome.
• Look at the Address Bar (top right). If you see a small icon that looks like a computer with a down arrow, click it.
• Click Install.
• The site will immediately pop out into its own window and appear in your ~/Applications/Chrome Apps folder.
• From there, just pin it to your dock

As far as group chats, there is a migration process so you should be okay.

No idea what the difference between Samsung and Google messages are, tbh

Obviously iMessage is much more private

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

For messages on your mac: there's a really clever way to do this: Use Chromium (or Chrome if you will) to make a Progressive Web App that behaves as an app on your desktop.

• Open the website in Chrome.
• Look at the Address Bar (top right). If you see a small icon that looks like a computer with a down arrow, click it.
• Click Install.
• The site will immediately pop out into its own window and appear in your ~/Applications/Chrome Apps folder.
• From there, just pin it to your dock

As far as group chats, there is a migration process so you should be okay.

No idea what the difference between Samsung and Google messages are, tbh

Obviously iMessage is much more private

Well I am hearing different things about Google Message and Imessage, if RCS is enabled on all parties, is RCS something that makes it seamless between Google and Imessage? How long has this been a thing for?

 

[scott craft]

I use Google messages and rcs chats work seamlessly with iPhone users. When an iPhone user texts me they are using rcs also, not iMessage. I don't know if switching from an iPhone to an android with Google messages will break existing group chats since I haven't had an iPhone for a couple of years.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

I use Google messages and rcs chats work seamlessly with iPhone users. When an iPhone user texts me they are using rcs also, not iMessage. I don't know if switching from an iPhone to an android with Google messages will break existing group chats since I haven't had an iPhone for a couple of years.

I remember a few years back when I had an Samsung phone I don't think RCS was a thing between Android and IOS so it was SMS only?

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I remember a few years back when I had an Samsung phone I don't think RCS was a thing between Android and IOS so it was SMS only?

My recommendation to you would be to stay on the Apple side. It's a known commodity, you are familiar with it and it integrates very well with your other Apple products. I found the same to be true for me with Android. I bought an iPhone 13 which was my first iPhone and I rarely used it. It's now being used as a trade for my Pixel 10a.

I found that I much prefer Android and you will probably come to the same conclusion about the iPhone. Save your money!

 

[edubfromktown]

I remember a few years back when I had an Samsung phone I don't think RCS was a thing between Android and IOS so it was SMS only?

I've been using Samsung phones since S23+ days (and Android phones since the Pixel 4 release). RCS has worked seamlessly since not long after its initial release 2-3 years ago (especially nowadays with S25 Ultra). One note: I disabled iMessage prior to porting my mobile number and service to Android.

From what I recall, the most reliable approach is to sync your iPhone/macOS contacts to Google Contacts prior to switching and all will be "right as rain" (as the Oracle told Neo in The Matrix movie 🙂)

 

[scott craft]

I remember a few years back when I had an Samsung phone I don't think RCS was a thing between Android and IOS so it was SMS only?

Correct. RCS is only 2-3 years old.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

My recommendation to you would be to stay on the Apple side. It's a known commodity, you are familiar with it and it integrates very well with your other Apple products. I found the same to be true for me with Android. I bought an iPhone 13 which was my first iPhone and I rarely used it. It's now being used as a trade for my Pixel 10a.

I found that I much prefer Android and you will probably come to the same conclusion about the iPhone. Save your money!

You definitely have a point there. I'm not likely to switch any time soon, just that I want to know what is needed and know what I need to do in order to switch, if the time comes.

I've been using Samsung phones since S23+ days (and Android phones since the Pixel 4 release). RCS has worked seamlessly since not long after its initial release 2-3 years ago (especially nowadays with S25 Ultra). One note: I disabled iMessage prior to porting my mobile number and service to Android.

From what I recall, the most reliable approach is to sync your iPhone/macOS contacts to Google Contacts prior to switching and all will be "right as rain" (as the Oracle told Neo in The Matrix movie 🙂)

I bought my first Android phone in late 2022, this was before the RCS feature was rolled out as far as I am hearing here. It was a Samsung A53 5G. The only thing that was available back then was SMS messaging. I don't even know if it had Google, or Samsung Messages on it. I don't explicitly remember, but I do remember not being able to join existent Group Chats and I was excluded from the family group chat, which was all in Imessage only. My memory about using the A53 5G is foggy. I got rid of it in August of 2023, when I sold it and got the Iphone 13, and then I traded that in for the 16E, which is what I am currently using.

It seems that nowadays however, Google has a better way of integrating and what you say there is something that I would keep in mind before switching.

 

[cubeover]

Xpect to lose all history, this way you won’t be disappointed.
Even Apple to Apple requires iCloud iMessage backup, do not expect this to work into the droid land.

 

[cubeover]

Samsung wrote a lot of own apps so that they also have your data - to keep tabs on your life in Korea, not just USA.

 

[edubfromktown]

Samsung wrote a lot of own apps so that they also have your data - to keep tabs on your life in Korea, not just USA.

You do not have to use any of Samsung's apps and can disable (within your user profile) those that cannot be removed. Apple, Google and other manufacturers are no less greedy regarding collecting and reselling your data.

On top of that, the mobile carriers add extra bloatware garbage services and modded apps to ALL phones that are locked to their proprietary cellular networks. Even if you avoid "built-in" apps (Facebook and others) that come with carrier devices, the carrier added services running in the background automagically harvest your data for them.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

You do not have to use any of Samsung's apps and can disable (within your user profile) those that cannot be removed. Apple, Google and other manufacturers are no less greedy regarding collecting and reselling your data.

On top of that, the mobile carriers add extra bloatware garbage services and modded apps to ALL phones that are locked to their proprietary cellular networks. Even if you avoid "built-in" apps (Facebook and others) that come with carrier devices, the carrier added services running in the background automagically harvest your data for them.

That's why no matter what device you use, once you access the internet, you place a bullseye on your back.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

You do not have to use any of Samsung's apps and can disable (within your user profile) those that cannot be removed. Apple, Google and other manufacturers are no less greedy regarding collecting and reselling your data.

On top of that, the mobile carriers add extra bloatware garbage services and modded apps to ALL phones that are locked to their proprietary cellular networks. Even if you avoid "built-in" apps (Facebook and others) that come with carrier devices, the carrier added services running in the background automagically harvest your data for them.

On my iphone I disabled any of the data or analytic features, I don't use Safari (I use both Brave and Firefox), and I turned off various different settings here and there. Would I be able to do such a thing on the Google Pixel?

 

[Heat_Fan89]

On my iphone I disabled any of the data or analytic features, I don't use Safari (I use both Brave and Firefox), and I turned off various different settings here and there. Would I be able to do such a thing on the Google Pixel?

As mentioned above, none of that matters because the carrier is harvesting your data and usage patterns. It's no different than your Home ISP. They log everywhere you go on the internet and even if you use a VPN, Law Enforcement can find a way around that if they want.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

As mentioned above, none of that matters because the carrier is harvesting your data and usage patterns. It's no different than your Home ISP. They log everywhere you go on the internet and even if you use a VPN, Law Enforcement can find a way around that if they want.

True. Not that I have anything to hide or anything like that. It does seem that Imessage is overall the better thing, and Iphone generally is a lot more well developed than Android, however in the US that comes with the culture / dominance of the Iphone, to where it feels like you are almost forced to use one.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

True. Not that I have anything to hide or anything like that. It does seem that Imessage is overall the better thing, and Iphone generally is a lot more well developed than Android, however in the US that comes with the culture / dominance of the Iphone, to where it feels like you are almost forced to use one.

Apple has its rabid fans and I could see why some would feel they are forced to use an iPhone. I view myself as a nonconformist so I can use a Pixel or a OnePlus phone.

The only thing I like about iMessage is that your messages are saved to iCloud whereas Messages on Google they are not unless you backup your phone.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

Apple has its rabid fans and I could see why some would feel they are forced to use an iPhone. I view myself as a nonconformist so I can use a Pixel or a OnePlus phone.

The only thing I like about iMessage is that your messages are saved to iCloud whereas Messages on Google they are not unless you backup your phone.

I like Apple, simply because Windows 11 pushed me away years ago and I wanted to get rid of my old tower PC. Although I grew up using Windows. I had an Iphone 6 for many years, as well. Though I am not by any means an Apple Loyalist.

I guess you could say I am dealing with the "Stuck in Apple Jail" position.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I like Apple, simply because Windows 11 pushed me away years ago and I wanted to get rid of my old tower PC. Although I grew up using Windows. I had an Iphone 6 for many years, as well. Though I am not by any means an Apple Loyalist.

I guess you could say I am dealing with the "Stuck in Apple Jail" position.

And there's nothing wrong with admitting that if the brand works for you!

 

[HouseLannister]

I have found the best solution is to separate my Android from Apple. I have an iPad for iMessage using my @icloud email and not my phone number. And I have RCS on my Pixel. If people insist on me being a blue bubble, they know where to reach me and that I might not respond as quickly. And I still get the occasional SMS from friends who have older iPhones and don't care.

 

[Harthag]

I made another thread about Android as a whole some time ago and asked some questions in other threads about this but I decided to make a specific thread about this, specifically the integration between Android/Google messages and that of imessage. I an Iphone user currently.

- I am a Mac user, how well does Google messages with RCS integrate within the Apple Ecosystem? Would I be able to see my texts on my mac, in Imessage?

- Can I join pre-existent group chats with Google Messages with RCS in an already existent imessage chat, and would switching preserve my message history, contacts, etc?

- What is the difference between Samsung and Google Messages?

- How well does privacy between Google Messages and Imessage compare?

I saw your message in the other thread, wanted to briefly chime in. If you are thinking of switching to an Android phone and already have a Mac, you can use OpenBubbles. It is a one-time install using a bar code on your Mac. You'll receive all iMessages on the Android phone and even FaceTime works. It works with Android Auto as well. This is the easiest way to keep all of your group chats intact.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

I saw your message in the other thread, wanted to briefly chime in. If you are thinking of switching to an Android phone and already have a Mac, you can use OpenBubbles. It is a one-time install using a bar code on your Mac. You'll receive all iMessages on the Android phone and even FaceTime works. It works with Android Auto as well. This is the easiest way to keep all of your group chats intact.

How reliable would such a thing be? Aren't Apple and Google working to kill off things like that? I see it is also a paid service as well.

 

[Harthag]

How reliable would such a thing be? Aren't Apple and Google working to kill off things like that? I see it is also a paid service as well.

I've been using it for the past year and it works perfectly. You're thinking of Beeper, which was a disaster due to them charging people for iMessage using their phone numbers. This is different. You don't send anyone / company your information. Don't pay for this app either. You just scan a QR code on your Mac which acts as the "server" at initial setup. By default it uses your Apple ID for iMessage. If you still have an iPhone keep it in airplane mode, you can still use your phone number with iMessage. I've had my iPhone in airplane mode for a long time and have had no issues; my phone number is still registered with iMessage even though I use a OnePlus 15 as my active phone.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

I've been using it for the past year and it works perfectly. You're thinking of Beeper, which was a disaster due to them charging people for iMessage using their phone numbers. This is different. You don't send anyone / company your information. Don't pay for this app either. You just scan a QR code on your Mac which acts as the "server" at initial setup. By default it uses your Apple ID for iMessage. If you still have an iPhone keep it in airplane mode, you can still use your phone number with iMessage. I've had my iPhone in airplane mode for a long time and have had no issues; my phone number is still registered with iMessage even though I use a OnePlus 15 as my active phone.

When you scroll down on the website it says "There is a $16.99 USD monthly fee for OpenBubbles Hosted with a $1.00 7-day trial. Self-host now for free." Unless I am misunderstanding this.

 

[Harthag]

When you scroll down on the website it says "There is a $16.99 USD monthly fee for OpenBubbles Hosted with a $1.00 7-day trial. Self-host now for free." Unless I am misunderstanding this.

Just use the self-host option. That's the one where you set it up using your own Mac. I'm not sure how the paid version works, I haven't tried it. If you will still have an iPhone to keep in airplane mode when you want to use the Android phone you don't need the paid version.