Google Messages is getting this ‘WhatsApp-like’ feature for group chat – Times of India

Google has started rolling out end-to-end encryption in group chats for Messages to users as a part of the beta program. The feature will help users send one-on-one texts using Messages app and it will be encrypted so they are private and secure and can only be seen by the sender and recipient. Google initially announced E2EE support for group chats at its I/O event in May 2022.
According to a report by 9to5Google, the company said it has “completed the rollout of group chat end-to-end encryption for users in Open Beta” in just over a month.

Google Messages app already comes with integrated end-to-end encryption feature while messaging someone who also has the RCS (Rich Communication Services) chat features enabled. Until now, it has been limited to conversation between two persons and not group chats.

The tech giant said it “will be available to some users in the open beta programme over the coming weeks”, the report adds.
The group conversations will feature a “This chat is now end-to-end encrypted” banner, while the send button will have a lock icon.
This will help protect Google or third parties from reading users’ RCS chats during that conversation between the sender and receiver, the report added.

Google revamps its Messages app
Google has been continuously working on its Messaging app for Android. In October, the company revealed a redesigned logo for the app and the app has undergone some internal changes. Users are now able to change the notification sound that plays when there’s an incoming message.
The Google Messages app also notifies users of incoming or outgoing messages when a thread is open.
Now use more emojis to react to messages
Other notable changes are the Rich Communication Service (RCS) in Google Messages which allows users to react using any emoji instead of selecting from the limited number – seven – that are currently available.
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