Android 4.4 ala KitKat looks to be a big release. Big enough to warrant a name change over being another version of Jelly Bean. With the upgrade it’s been rumored that Hangouts would take over the SMS/MMS functions. If today’s post on the Android Developers blog is any indication it looks like this will actually be the case.
According to the post, there are big changes coming to SMS/MMS apps in KitKat. The first change is creating a public API for SMS handling. In addition to the new API, 4.4 will allow users to set default SMS apps. The blog post purposely spills the beans on this new feature as Google wants third party app developers to prepare their apps for the new OS version.
Some third party SMS apps provide various functions and features through the use of hidden apps — something that Google frowns upon — and as such created the public API to remedy that. This new method will allow for the system itself to handle the sending of receiving of apps but will display that information in whatever app you default it to. This should help provide third party SMS apps with some much needed stability. While, an API/feature of this nature is long overdue it’s not without its own set of questions.
As Koushik Dutta posted in a recent Google+ post, moving to an API that will default to whatever app you choose will break apps like MightyText and DeskSMS. Even though these apps will still be able to display messages received you may not be able to send messages using these apps if another app is set as the default. While some would sacrifice the ability to send a text from their computer or tablet for a unified messaging app from Google, i.e. Hangouts, this raises the question on someone having the ability to do so if they so choose.
So how does this affect you? Moving to a system function that handles the heavy lifting makes it easier for Hangouts to handle SMS/MMS messaging. You will be able to use Hangouts right out of the box without a separate messaging app and devices won’t need to ship with one intact.
It can be assumed that in order for this to work correctly, we’ll need to be on Android 4.4 or higher but we’ll have to wait and see. Either way, Google’s working towards creating a unified messenger and this makes that process a lot easier. While I am a major supporter of this move, it may rub a few people the wrong way. What about you the reader? Is this something that you’re excited for?
source: Android Developer Blog
Come comment on this article: KitKat to Allow Setting Default SMS App, Brings Questions Abound and Hints at Hangouts SMS Integration
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