- Live location sharing is heading to Google Messages on Android
- This is a feature that other messaging apps have offered for some time
- There will also be an upcoming change to how group chats are started
Google Messages has gotten a lot of useful upgrades recently, and there are signs that two more are on the way: live location sharing to let other people know where you are, and an easier way to start group chats.
First up, live location sharing. This was actually spotted in hidden code last year, but as Android Authority reports, the feature is now more prominent in the Android app, even if it’s not actually available to users yet.
The Android Authority team managed to enable the feature with a bit of code hacking, so we can all see how it works. You’ll be able to control how long your location is shared and which contacts can see it – and there will be a persistent notification in chats if you’re currently broadcasting your location.
There also appears to be some integration with Find Hub on Android, although locations can also be viewed through a web browser. It shouldn’t be long before Google decides to make this available to everyone.
Start group chats
Next up, we have a small tweak to make to group chats, and once again we’re indebted to Android Authority for spotting the change. This appears to be something that is currently being tested in the Google Messages beta.
Updated workflow brings up a multiple contact picker when you press the button Start chat in the bottom right corner of the main chat list – so it’s a little easier to start a new group chat.
You can still just select a single contact and start a one-on-one conversation, but starting a group chat now takes just one click less: you can start selecting multiple contacts immediately, without having to press the button. Create a group button, as you do now. This is a change that could well start rolling out more widely very soon.
With iPhones now supporting the RCS standard implemented by Google Message and numerous updates arriving for the app as well, Google Messages is quickly becoming one of the most successful and important apps developed by Google.
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