It updates the basic text messaging app that comes pre-installed on almost every Android smartphone, and is part of Google’s strategy to uncouple its apps from its Android operating system.

So if you fancy rebelling against Google's forced use of the Hangouts app and going your own way, here are five alternative SMS apps to install and bring texting back to basics on Android.

Android may never have a universal messaging app, and perhaps it shouldn’t. Instead, Google could build APIs or services that allow syncing across apps, better notifications, or aggregated inboxes.

Google Messages and RCS are the future of messaging on Android Verizon shutting down its messaging app in favor of Google Messages will help improve everyone's texting experience.

Text messages sent between iPhones and Android devices will soon benefit from end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

How to encrypt text messages with WhatsApp To ensure that messages between Apple and Android users are encrypted, you can use the text messaging app WhatsApp.

Today, T-Mobile has finally announced that satellite messaging is nearly here. To start, the company is rolling out a beta program specifically for T-Mobile customers.