Samsung Should Keep Samsung Messages

Last September on my phone some times when I opened Samsung Messages there would be a prompt at the top of the app urging me to "upgrade" to Google Messages. After this happened a couple of times I went to the Samsung Members Community. There I found many who were complaining about the prompt to "upgrade" to Google Messages and I complained myself. Fortunately, the prompt stopped not long after that. Unfortunately, the prompts started again last week. This time I have complained on both the Samsung Members community and sent feedback to Samsung. Quite simply, I have no desire to switch to Google Messages or ever use Google Messages.

As to the reason for the prompt, last year it seems Samsung made the decision to prioritize Google Messages over their own Samsung Messages. As early as last July,, Samsung Messages no longer came pre-installed on the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. It was in September that Samsung users (including myself) started getting the prompts to "upgrade" to Google Messages. Last month Samsung Messages was removed from the Google Play Sore, but it remains available on the Samsung Store. What is more, Samsung even updated Samsung Messages last month. It was also last month that Samsung caused some alarm when they said they were sunsetting Samsung Messages. Fortunately, it turns out Samsung had misspoken, as they clarified that Samsung Messages would remain available in the Galaxy Store. At least for now, it seems that Samsung Messages will remain available, even if it does not come pre-installed on newer phones.

Regardless given the anger Samsung users have expressed over the idea of Samsung Messages being discontinued or being forced to use Google Messages, I think it would be unwise for Samsung to discontinue Samsung Messages. Both last September and in the past week there have been a number of posts to the Samsung Members Community complaining about the prompts to "upgrade"to Google Messages. It seems a large number of people not only love Samsung Messages, but they absolutely hate Google Messages and refuse to switch to it. And, quite frankly, I can understand the reason why.

There is a reason I have put the word "upgrade"in quotation marks when discussing prompts to switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages.From my standpoint changing from Samsung Messages to Google Messages would more properly be termed a "downgrade" It would be switching from a superior app to an inferior one. In my opinion Google Messages has one of the ugliest, most unwieldy interfaces ever made. It is certainly less user friendly than the Samsung Messages' interface. 

Samsung Messages also has features that Google Messages lacks. One can change the background colour of conversations or even add a background image. Samsung Messages has  recycle bin, so one can restore deleted messages up to 30 days. One an even sort conversations into categories. One big advantage for those of us who use other Samsung apps is that Samsung Messages is fully integrated with Calendar, Notes, and so on.

As to Google Messages, the one advantage it has that Samsung Messages does not is that one can easily access Google Messages on Windows PCs. Accessing Samsung Messages on a Windows PC is a bit trickier and requites one install the Link to Windows or Phone Link apps. Another thing Google Messages has that is lacking in Samsung Messages is support for RCS (Rich Communications Services). As for myself, I don't see this as a disadvantage. I do not use RCS myself nor do I wan to. I am perfectly happy with SMS and MMS.

Beyond whatever advantages either app might have, I also have to point out that another reason to use Samsung Messages is that Google already has something of a choke hold when it comes to Android apps. When the last time many people used a maps app other than Google Maps? How many Android users use Meet instead of another video communication app on their phones? Rightly or wrongly, Google has faced antitrust suits. In making Samsung Messages, Samsung provides Google with a bit of competition that it might not have otherwise.

I have used Samsung Messages ever since I first got a smart phone. I have tried out Google Messages and I have never found it to my liking. I consider Google Messages to be a far inferior app to Samsung Messages to the point that if Samsung does discontinue Samsung Messages, I will simply download and install another SMS app. I certainly will not downgrade to Google Messages. What is more, there are apparently many people like me. Given that, Samsung should not only continue to make Samsung Messages, but they should start pre-installing it on their phones again, make it the default messaging app on their phones, and make it available on the Play Store again.