Web/Mobile App Critique

 I wanted to keep the application I was to review simple. So I chose the Messages App by Google LLC. This is the default messaging app for Android phones that do not have a manufacturer's skin on the Android OS software. The application is on version 7.9.054 and is developed by Google LLC, this makes it proprietary to just the Android Operating system and not available on iOS. The application is free with no in-app purchases and usually comes pre-installed on phones with vanilla Android OS.The Application is designed to present SMS and MMS texting and chat (RCS) for users “from anywhere with the reliability of texting and the richness of chat”. 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en&gl=USLinks to an external site.

The Application has a simple and straightforward design of displaying SMS/MMS/RCS. I primarily use it for SMS/MMS functions. These are some of the basic points of the application.

• Messages are displayed in order of date and time received with the newest messages being displayed at the top.
• Unread messages have the letters BOLDED to identify them as unread.
• Name or number of sender is displayed with a message preview underneath their name.
• Once in a specific message thread, older messages are displayed and can be scrolled through by swiping down.

The design is very minimalist which allows for a low learning curve. This allows the app to be used by children and older adults. The application home screen provides a simple, uncluttered way to display read and unread messages, this allows the user to prioritize what messages are important to read and which messages he can set aside for a later time. The icon on the left of each message identifies the sender of the message as a person saved on your contacts or not, adding a color to each one of the bubbles. If the sender is not saved as a contact then it will display the phone number of the sender.

The App does what it states to do and more. I would say it’s functionality is better than most Messaging apps. The application contains many additional features that allow it to perform more complex tasks.

• Search function in the home page of the application that allows for the searching of a contact or a keyword.
• An additional search function inside a message thread to look for previous mentioned topics inside that thread.
• Web Messaging that allows the messages to be viewed on a computer with all the same functionality as the phone application.
• Spam/Block filter
• Quick call buttons in each chat if the user desires to call the individual they are messaging
• Allows for group chats.
• Images that are sent can be sent at a high quality.
• Able to be used over wifi where a cellular data connection is not available
• Applications allow for smart reply which gives you a word or phrase that is a suitable reply based on the context of the message.

    

I believe this is the most straightforward messaging app that has the additions of a more complex messaging app without being overbearing. It is both user friendly but with the functionality of more complex messaging applications. 

The first recommendation with the application would be the customization. Allowing more themes for those that like to customize their applications to fit their personality more. Superficial yet effective as people like to make things part of their lifestyle. My second recommendation would be to allow this messaging app to synchronize more with iMessage, a product by Apple on iPhones. How iMessage and Android messaging work with themselves, but cross integrate the platforms for a more universal user experience so that no matter what platform you are the best user experience is had. My las recommendation would have to do more with the features the application provides in the Android Messaging environment. Providing features like those in the iMessage environment where users can do more than just SMS/MMS but interact with emojis and play games. 

Abraham RiveraCorral