Android users can now send text messages from computer browsers

Android users can now send and receive text messages over the Internet by connecting their smartphone through their computer's browser. — dpa

Google's Android Messages app is getting its own browser-based web service, just like the one you know from Whatsapp and Telegram.

This allows app users to send and receive text messages over the internet by connecting their smartphone to a browser on another computer.

To send and receive messages through a browser, you visit the website https://messages.android.com and scan a QR code. You can now make use of a keyboard and a large screen when writing text messages. If you're not on an unlimited data plan, make sure your smartphone is connected to the Internet using a WiFi network while doing so.

In addition to regular texts, Android Messages also supports RCS messaging. Favoured by Google, the new standard meant to supplant regular SMS texts allows you to send and receive messages containing pictures, videos and other additional content. There's a chance, however, that your local mobile network operator may not support the feature yet, depending on where you live.

Android Messages is available free of charge from Google's Play Store. You can also opt to make the program your standard app for handling regular text and RCS messages: Go to "Settings" of the app, then "Default messaging app" and select "Messages" from the menu. The app will then adopt all the required settings and can also import existing SMS messages. — dpa