Google killing off 'SMS for Hangouts' feature in some markets?

Published July 2, 2014 5:05pm

Google may be killing off its "SMS for Hangouts" feature, which allows users to receive chat messages as text messages.

Users who try to access their "SMS for Hangouts" settings received warning that the feature will be available until July 2.

"This service will be discontinued. It will continue to be available until July 2nd, 2014," read the message.

Google had warned that while the feature is convenient for people who may not always have an Internet connection, SMS is "less secure" and less reliable than web-based communication.

It said SMS is "less secure and may be less reliable than web-based communication," and all messages sent by SMS are via the user's mobile carrier network, "without encryption."

Tech site The Next Web noted SMS integration was among the updates for its Hangouts Android app in October 2013.

But it said the feature that allowed users to add their phone numbers to receive messages from Google+ Hangouts as SMS messages was aimed at feature-phone users in developing markets across parts of Asia and Africa.

"It could well be that just not enough people used it," it speculated on the cause of the discontinuation of the service. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

Tags: google, googlehangouts