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Text messenger options

I have used Chomp for years, but switched to Samsung Messages to stay close to stock. I want to give Bixby an honest chance to impress me. And so far, Messages works just fine for me (in most circumstances).

That said, I would never use ANY Verizon apps out of choice. Why on earth does Verizon think they, as a cell phone company, can develop better apps than companies that develop apps as a primary function? In fact, my next device will be unlocked so that I don't have to run through and disable all the VZW crapware. Why? Because they have this new wonderful program called Verizon Selects, which is a "loyalty" program that you can get points or whatever. Well, those points cost you: Verizon is collecting tons of data on you from emails, texts, surfing habits etc. and sharing that across Verizon partner platforms (which include AOL and Yahoo). They SELL your data to advertising companies, who then target the ads you receive based on your personal information... that you signed away to get points.

Sorry: I use Verizon for their cellular service, and I pay for that. Business concluded. I don't need anything Verizon other than that.
 
But presumably Signal, like all internet message apps, requires both parties to have it installed. That's the beauty of SMS, everyone has access. Of course here in the UK almost everyone has unlimited SMS too, so there's no additional cost for using it.

Textra is simple, fast, reliable, enough customisation options that you can choose your own look, and some nice little touches (e.g. when scrolling back through long conversations the date of the messages you are currently looking at appears in the top bar). I use it as my primary SMS app on my current (and old) phone. Chomp, by the same people, has even more customisation.

My experience with Samsung's stock message app isn't deep enough to say anything significant about that. Not being American I've never used any Verizon software (or even their network, since their 2G/3G service is incompatible with most of the world's phones).
 
The number one thing that I would love to see in a messaging app and haven't been able to find yet, is a easy way to opt out of a group text.
Two taps would be great. Select the message, select Opt Out, BAM! Only in my dreams.
 
Hadron said:
But presumably Signal, like all internet message apps, requires both parties to have it installed.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify, Signal does not require both parties to be using Signal. It does use secure encryption when both parties are using Signal, but otherwise just seamlessly defaults to SMS/MMS for those using other texting services.
 
So sort of like iMessage, only cross-platform and seamless.

Anyone who wants to argue that iMessage is seamless, speak to someone who switched to a different platform without remembering to sign out first ;).
 
Yeah, kinda sorta. But Signal is just another texting app/service that happens to include secure encryption, where iMessage is its own inclusive world, based on a closed standard where all messages are run through Apple's servers.
 
Yeah, I was just using it as an excuse to take a jab at Apple's walled garden (and the "bug" that stopped people who switched platform receiving messages, which they only provided a work-around for after a couple of year when faced with a class action suit. I use Apple products too, but don't think the fact that they were prepared to knowingly and deliberately screw former customers for years, leading many to assume that the fault was with their new phone and return to Apple, should be forgotten easily).
 
TextPlus!, is my secondary I use..in fact is my main one..it's fast, friendly, suports mms, it provides me with my own personal secondary phone number, phone calls in USA and Canada, you can add the feature to call any where in the world too..with $20 you can lock in your own number..

The facebook one..he is right..very annoying..you don't want the rest of the whole world to know what your phone number is..
 
I use Messages + as the stock message app only lets me attach two photos at a time, Textra only allowed me to attach one photo and Messages + allows me to attach 6 photos at a time.
 
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