Based on a recent teardown of an APK (Android Package) by the folks from XDA Developers and Android Police, it appears that Google’s Android Messages mobile app (which is basically the rebranded iteration of Messenger for Android) may soon provide support for text messaging by way of an Internet browser like the tech giant’s own Chrome, Mozilla’s Firefox, or even Apple’s Safari. Right now, only Google’s Allo messaging app allows users to text via a web browsing platform.
But the main difference between Allo is that the Android Messages service will be letting people send mobile SMSes as opposed to just web messages. Of course, it is quite possible that the text messaging via web browser offered by Android Messages might require users to scan a QR code on their personal computer or Mac, and then proceed to pairing their handset each time they want to send a text message through a browser. As spotted by XDA Developers and Android Police, the newest Android Messages 2.9 APK seems to have already incorporated the texting via web browser functionality, but the feature appears to have not been activated yet.
On top of that, the APK might also support a payment or cash transfer feature. Considering that Google already has its own mobile payment system, Google Pay (which as of a month ago, now unifies the Android Pay and Google Wallet brands), it is highly likely that the Android Messages mobile app’s payment or cash transfer functionality will be powered by Google Pay.
Moreover, there is also some indication that the latest Android Messages 2.9 APK also comes with a feature called Google Enhanced Messaging, which might work similarly to the Smart Replies service for Gmail, Allo, and Inbox, so one can bet that the Android Messages mobile app will have support for this capability soon.
With these recent developments, it looks as though Google is turning the Android Messages mobile app into something that resembles Allo, but with the ability to send mobile SMSes instead of web messages. And with the integration of the Google Pay system, the tech giant could also readily monetize the service if it wants to.
Now, it should be mentioned that just because these features were spotted due to an APK teardown, it does not necessarily mean these functionalities will make it to the final version. Google, after all, has always been fond of exploring loads of ideas (even crazy ones), and some of them do not always survive the experimentation stage.
