This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
Google's new messaging service, Chat, is poised to shake up the market with its innovative features and seamless integration with Android smartphones.
According to reports, Chat will operate similarly to traditional SMS messages, but with additional elements seen in other popular messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. For instance, users will receive notifications when their messages are read, and the app will display real-time typing indicators.
Chat will be free to download, and messages will be free to send when users are connected to WiFi. However, if users are not connected to WiFi, they will incur data costs. Notably, over 50 mobile carriers, including Vodafone and T Mobile, have already partnered with Google to offer the service.
Despite its promising features, Chat has a major drawback: unlike WhatsApp, messages sent on Chat will not be end-to-end encrypted. This raises concerns about the security of user data and makes it vulnerable to hacking.
As Google prepares to launch Chat, it remains to be seen how the service will compete with the established market leader, WhatsApp.
