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What messaging program do you use?

I'm just curious what messaging program everyone uses?
I have used many of them and only one now has the functionality (that I have found) to deal with iPhone group text messages, Handcent 4.0. Once a week my family or friends will send out a group message and people with iPhones will all respond and it will come through as the same thread for people on the iPhones; however as an adroid user any responses will come back individually. This can get really annoying when there are 20 people responding and only 10 of them I have contact data for.
This problem has been reported to Google here: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=24468.

I love Handcent. I've been using it for quite some time now. It works great out-of-the-box so I've set it up on my parents' and grandparents' phones; additionally, it sports extensive customization options. Also, it can replace the default Android ringtone/notification selector, which is horrid.

I use ChompSMS. I got really used to BiteSMS on my old iPhone, and Chomp just feels right

ChompSMS here. No complaints. Tried gandcent but didn't think it was as good as chomp
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA

Exactly what he said for me too.
burgeswe said:
I use ChompSMS. I got really used to BiteSMS on my old iPhone, and Chomp just feels right
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

GO SMS Pro always. I tried Handcent but it's so unpleasant, aesthetically.

Go SMS Pro
Agree 100% with whatlobster.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

GO SMS Pro.
Sent from my Hellfire Kindle using XDA

What'sApp and google voice using a google number (I refuse to pay for texts)... But I'm not sure either of these two can do group messaging, though.

Gosms!
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5

So far Go SmS Pro is working well. Nice themeing too
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA

+1 go sms pro
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Go sms pro because go chat is the only thing that can work like whatsapp and sms client at the same time
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

After reading this post I installed handcent hoping if I sent a group text, the responses would arrive back in the same thread as the group text sent. Unfortunately handcent does not appear to be capable of that, unless there is an option I forgot to set.
Does anyone know of an SMS app which can support return texts for groups going back to the same thread, as opposed to separate responses coming back to multiple thread?
I love chomp and find that this is the only feature missing from it, which would make it otherwise perfect.
GooSe275 said:
I'm just curious what messaging program everyone uses?
I have used many of them and only one now has the functionality (that I have found) to deal with iPhone group text messages, Handcent 4.0. Once a week my family or friends will send out a group message and people with iPhones will all respond and it will come through as the same thread for people on the iPhones; however as an adroid user any responses will come back individually. This can get really annoying when there are 20 people responding and only 10 of them I have contact data for.
This problem has been reported to Google here: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=24468.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Gosms pro for me as well
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

rezadue said:
After reading this post I installed handcent hoping if I sent a group text, the responses would arrive back in the same thread as the group text sent. Unfortunately handcent does not appear to be capable of that, unless there is an option I forgot to set.
Does anyone know of an SMS app which can support return texts for groups going back to the same thread, as opposed to separate responses coming back to multiple thread?
I love chomp and find that this is the only feature missing from it, which would make it otherwise perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Menu>Settings> Application Settings
You have to set handcent at your default and then at the bottom of the settings there is a check box to "Thread group conversations"

Awesome. Thanks you.
Does anyone know if chomp has this feature too?
GooSe275 said:
Menu>Settings> Application Settings
You have to set handcent at your default and then at the bottom of the settings there is a check box to "Thread group conversations"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

GooSe275 said:
Menu>Settings> Application Settings
You have to set handcent at your default and then at the bottom of the settings there is a check box to "Thread group conversations"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I'm blind. i'm on Handcent 4.0.6, and I can't find that check box.

I've just been using stock.
I kept having a problem with handcent where it would tell me a message didn't send but it really did, so when I resent the message the receiver got it twice and I looked like a dufus.

Chomp has that ad at the bottom that is really annoying. I uninstalled for this reason. I would pay for the app if they would remove that damn add. So far I haven't figured out how to block it, the hosts method seems less and less effective lately.

Group MMS Fix?

Does anyone know of any mod or ROM that will properly support group MMS in android as it is properly support on iPhone, WP7, and BlackBerry?
On the HTC One X the messages arrive properly but when I send a reply, it gets sent as an individual SMS. Interestingly, if I attach an image (thus forcing it to convert to MMS), it will reply-all correctly.
So I guess .... something has to be modified so that the OS knows to send as MMS (with text only) when responding to a group

Use goSMSPro or Handcent. Need to enable it in both.

jiggytom said:
Use goSMSPro or Handcent. Need to enable it in both.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate the suggestion. I dont want to put words int eh OPs mouth, but I think they were referring to a way to mod or update native software so that the native messages app works properly with MMS. for many people, using a 3rd party app for messaging is not preferable.
that said, there are threads running around XDA regarding installing the stock ICS messaging app. perhaps that would work properly with group messaging on HOX (I would assume but haven't tried).

The stock app doesn't work with group messaging either, to my knowledge but someone can correct me if I am wrong.
Moto BLUR software has this implemented in their messaging app. Don't think its that easy of a thing to do.
Basically the messages come in as MMS and they are grouped together by the software.

This is the worst if you came from an iPhone and have a lot of friends with iPhones. I get group texts daily so I had to download Go SMS. After enabling group texting in Go SMS the group messages are shown properly in the stock HTC messaging app, but I still need to use Go if I want to reply to the group texts.

Gtg you have a one x to? Awesome this is a good thing
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

I've also been wondering this too.. I just installed Go SMS Pro but I still can't seem to get it to function like the iPhone would where its all in one conversation sort of like an online chat room. Hmmm anyone else have any tips?
edit: all working smooth now so happy.

jiggytom said:
The stock app doesn't work with group messaging either, to my knowledge but someone can correct me if I am wrong.
Moto BLUR software has this implemented in their messaging app. Don't think its that easy of a thing to do.
Basically the messages come in as MMS and they are grouped together by the software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is good to know, thanks. So this issue seems to be isolated as a flaw in ICS, then, correct?

fitchpuckman said:
This is good to know, thanks. So this issue seems to be isolated as a flaw in ICS, then, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't say its a "flaw", its just an unimplemented feature. Not sure why they never took the time to do it, it's pretty popular.

jiggytom said:
I wouldn't say its a "flaw", its just an unimplemented feature. Not sure why they never took the time to do it, it's pretty popular.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh okay, thanks. I wasn't sure if it was a bug or just not developed. Seems very odd that they didnt implement group MMS.

gtg465x said:
This is the worst if you came from an iPhone and have a lot of friends with iPhones. I get group texts daily so I had to download Go SMS. After enabling group texting in Go SMS the group messages are shown properly in the stock HTC messaging app, but I still need to use Go if I want to reply to the group texts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly this.
GoSMS is ok but is rather ugly, and crash-happy. What will happen is that a group message comes in, then gosms groups it into the threaded convo so I get 2 notifications for every 1 message. It's rather annoying. Handcent is even uglier.

I share your frustrations. I have tried ChompSMS since I used BiteSMS on the iPhone and it doesn't support MMS. I tried Handcent and the UI is cartoonish and it doesn't display contact photos correctly. The HTC messages app allows me to send a group MMS, but then I get individual replies back and it doesn't maintain the group.

Using at&ts message app and it does group txt, but you can't start one. It has to be sent to you first and from there it'll always reply to group
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

gnabgibeht said:
Using at&ts message app and it does group txt, but you can't start one. It has to be sent to you first and from there it'll always reply to group
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The att messages app also butchers picture quality through mms. Send yourself one and see.

mochzr said:
Interestingly, if I attach an image (thus forcing it to convert to MMS), it will reply-all correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this. it's gotta be here. I hope the modders can figure a way of getting the phone to reply with an mms message, attachment free, when the message is sent within a group thread.

Bumping this thread.... anyway for a mod or an app that can force a text-only message to MMS when there are multiple recipients?? that's all I need :X

developer support requested
This would be PERFECT, especially if this pref could be added to stock SMS/MMS application. No need for Handcent or GoSMS, which are both ugly and unwieldy, IMHO.
mochzr said:
Bumping this thread.... anyway for a mod or an app that can force a text-only message to MMS when there are multiple recipients?? that's all I need :X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

GO SMS group messages
GO SMS groups text messages like the iPhone does
Settings, Send settings, enable group MMS

dollypatel07 said:
GO SMS groups text messages like the iPhone does
Settings, Send settings, enable group MMS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GO SMS will slow down to a snail's pace if you have consecutive group texts coming in (which happens frequently as people are using it to converse).
It's slow, it's rather ugly, AND it gives you TWO notifications for every one group text. It's seriously terrible. WP7, WP8, BlackBerry, iPhone, all properly support Group MMS. Even some featurephones do it correctly as well.
I swear this has to be some kind of crazy oversight from Google or some kind of weird political war where no one will address such a simple issue. I mean if Verizon and AT&T can make an app that corrects this, then what gives??

Native SMS retarded -- google wake up!
mochzr said:
GO SMS will slow down to a snail's pace if you have consecutive group texts coming in (which happens frequently as people are using it to converse).
It's slow, it's rather ugly, AND it gives you TWO notifications for every one group text. It's seriously terrible. WP7, WP8, BlackBerry, iPhone, all properly support Group MMS. Even some featurephones do it correctly as well.
I swear this has to be some kind of crazy oversight from Google or some kind of weird political war where no one will address such a simple issue. I mean if Verizon and AT&T can make an app that corrects this, then what gives??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GO SMS is a NO GO as the OP has said. I agree Google is slacking here, or there has to be something else.
Is the raw code unavailable to developers to recompile and change the native text messaging application and it's MMS settings?

MMS Messaging

So, weird thing I've noticed about MMS messaging. Every time someone from a group sends a new text, I get the notification as normal but when I bring down the notification center and click on the text, it takes me to that persons individual thread of messages instead of the group that the text actually came from. I always have to click the back button and then click on the group message to see the new text.
Thoughts?
Sent from my HTC One M8

I think that's 'normal'. It always worked like that on my Rezound. Haven't had any group messages on the M8 yet.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

superjshorty said:
So, weird thing I've noticed about MMS messaging. Every time someone from a group sends a new text, I get the notification as normal but when I bring down the notification center and click on the text, it takes me to that persons individual thread of messages instead of the group that the text actually came from. I always have to click the back button and then click on the group message to see the new text.
Thoughts?
Sent from my HTC One M8
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats the stock messaging app for you. Same way on the M7. Hence why I switched to Hangouts or 8SMS.

Since posting this, I've tried several other SMS apps and have found that Hello SMS handles MMSv very well. Is also just a really nice looking app. Very simple.
Sent from my HTC One M8

Any one else having any group messaging problems since the new firmware? Along with the annoyance mentioned above it seems like when replying to a group chat... the messages go to each individual member and not the entire group (chat). Ideas? Thank you

kciccaglione said:
Any one else having any group messaging problems since the new firmware? Along with the annoyance mentioned above it seems like when replying to a group chat... the messages go to each individual member and not the entire group (chat). Ideas? Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

kciccaglione said:
Any one else having any group messaging problems since the new firmware? Along with the annoyance mentioned above it seems like when replying to a group chat... the messages go to each individual member and not the entire group (chat). Ideas? Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NoFanboy said:
This.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open messaging app > settings > MMS settings > make sure "group conversation" is checked. For me it was unchecked by default. That's the only thing I can think of!

sparky_005 said:
Open messaging app > settings > MMS settings > make sure "group conversation" is checked. For me it was unchecked by default. That's the only thing I can think of!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rechecked that after the ota but it didn't work or change anything
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

superjshorty said:
Since posting this, I've tried several other SMS apps and have found that Hello SMS handles MMSv very well. Is also just a really nice looking app. Very simple.
Sent from my HTC One M8
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah.That doesn't work fine on stock messaging. Maybe, I'll try that as well.

I'm also having trouble getting mms Messages. I missed a couple and I'm also noticing that my 4G symbol changes from small symbol to larger one with the arrows below it. I assume this is trying to download the message over cellular. This happens about once a minute
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Auto SMS to MMS?

Hey everyone. I finally escaped Verizon because the OnePlus was the reason for me to change carriers. I switched over to atnt and well yeah, it's atnt. Anyways, whenever I sent a ams, they have a 160 character limit. After that, it will split up my messages into however many parts and send them. With verizon, if the message was over 160 characters, it would automatically send it as an MMS which does not have a limit.
I use hangouts for my sms, but also tried handcent and the regular messenger and no option was available. I'll receive all messages no matter the length as a MMS, but when I send them to non atnt users, it will split them up. Any mods or anything that can fix this? I've done a little research and have seen some other phones get that feature. Not sure if this is something already being worked on or something.
Currently running CM 11 33R
Thanks in advance.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm able to send pictures or a location or well anything without a problem and it sends the MMS correctly, just won't convert multiple SMS's to a MMS. One person suggested adding a subject title to any sms and that will automatically convert it to a MMS, except that option isn't available in messaging or hangouts.

Try few different sms apps from play store and play with settings. I have nexus 5 and I can change settings in the app, I downloaded from Nexus 5 apps forum, its an old cm 4.2 app I believe

moldovanos said:
Try few different sms apps from play store and play with settings. I have nexus 5 and I can change settings in the app, I downloaded from Nexus 5 apps forum, its an old cm 4.2 app I believe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any specific apps in mind? Or any other ways around it you can think of? I prefer to use hangouts but I'm aware that I probably can't use it to fix my problem.

Textra or qksms should have it
Sent from my One A0001 using Tapatalk

zephiK said:
Textra or qksms should have it
Sent from my One A0001 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the suggestions. Tried Textra and it didn't work. It only gives an option to split long SMS messages. Tried the MMS messaging options as well and that didn't work either. Cannot find qksms in the play store though.

chaosmage123 said:
Thank you for the suggestions. Tried Textra and it didn't work. It only gives an option to split long SMS messages. Tried the MMS messaging options as well and that didn't work either. Cannot find qksms in the play store though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its in Alpha, https://plus.google.com/communities/113548623434189541823 join the community and then beta opt in and then you'll find it.
I know for sure QKSMS has it but its still in Alpha.

zephiK said:
Its in Alpha, https://plus.google.com/communities/113548623434189541823 join the community and then beta opt in and then you'll find it.
I know for sure QKSMS has it but its still in Alpha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, requested to join. Will have to check it out for sure. Thank you very much, I appreciate it. I really hope this solves the problem.

zephiK said:
Its in Alpha, https://plus.google.com/communities/113548623434189541823 join the community and then beta opt in and then you'll find it.
I know for sure QKSMS has it but its still in Alpha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So tried QKSms and it still doesn't work. It literally has the options that I was looking for, either split a sms into multiple parts or convert a sms into a mms after x amount of parts and you can choose x. I tried doing 2-4 and neither worked. Took some screen shots I'm happy to share if interested. I've tried with different people on every other carrier as well. Any other ideas? Could it be my service in general?

[Q] MMS in Apps other than Hangouts

Hello all,
For starters, some preliminaries:
ROM: ViperRom 3.2.1
Firmware: Latest (4.4.4)
Kernel, radios: Stock
Has anyone been having trouble with group MMS beyond the Hangouts app? The Hangouts app works like silk when it comes to group MMS - I can send/receive to all my friends (regardless of whether they have a smartphone or cell phone), it can play GIFs within the thread and it doesn't deliver messages at the wrong time (a 5:09pm message gets delivered before a 5:06 pm message). The problem with Hangouts is that it is slow and has odd kinks that drive me insane (when you send a message it doesn't show it unless you exit and reenter the message thread, three second delay to display contact when searching for number). The glaring issue is that it is an app that I simply do not use for it's native purpose - which is to create Hangouts and not use SMS. Nobody I know uses Hangouts, so I only use it for SMS.
I have tried literally every SMS app there is - Handcent, GOSMS, 8SMS, Hello, Textra, ChompSMS, Evolve SMS, Messaging (stock KitKat modified), HTC Messaging.
These apps all have a consistent problem - I cannot communicate with my cell phone friends in group chats. They receive blank messages and cannot read my replies. I've tried modifiying my APN but I am unable to create a new profile in Settings>Networks>APN. This is honestly strange to me because Hangouts works so flawlessly compared to all these other apps. Any suggestions?

genheals said:
Hello all,
For starters, some preliminaries:
ROM: ViperRom 3.2.1
Firmware: Latest (4.4.4)
Kernel, radios: Stock
Has anyone been having trouble with group MMS beyond the Hangouts app? The Hangouts app works like silk when it comes to group MMS - I can send/receive to all my friends (regardless of whether they have a smartphone or cell phone), it can play GIFs within the thread and it doesn't deliver messages at the wrong time (a 5:09pm message gets delivered before a 5:06 pm message). The problem with Hangouts is that it is slow and has odd kinks that drive me insane (when you send a message it doesn't show it unless you exit and reenter the message thread, three second delay to display contact when searching for number). The glaring issue is that it is an app that I simply do not use for it's native purpose - which is to create Hangouts and not use SMS. Nobody I know uses Hangouts, so I only use it for SMS.
I have tried literally every SMS app there is - Handcent, GOSMS, 8SMS, Hello, Textra, ChompSMS, Evolve SMS, Messaging (stock KitKat modified), HTC Messaging.
These apps all have a consistent problem - I cannot communicate with my cell phone friends in group chats. They receive blank messages and cannot read my replies. I've tried modifiying my APN but I am unable to create a new profile in Settings>Networks>APN. This is honestly strange to me because Hangouts works so flawlessly compared to all these other apps. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Verizon Message+ ? That is what I am using and works well for me. I'm usually not a fan of Verizon Software, but the messaging app has a lot of options and doesn't seam to lag.

jsaxon2 said:
Have you tried Verizon Message+ ? That is what I am using and works well for me. I'm usually not a fan of Verizon Software, but the messaging app has a lot of options and doesn't seam to lag.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that app. Super clunky, definitely looking for a better alternative.

Interesting.
I have been running Viper also ( until yesterday actually).
I have been using Handcent and group messaging seems to work fine. At least no one has told me otherwise.
I do notice, with Handcent that from time to time SMS/mms messages seem to get hung up for quite a few minutes( see the spinning wheel next to message). I always though that was a network issue. You have me thinking otherwise now..
I have never tried hangouts for SMS. I might give it a whirl.

genheals said:
I tried that app. Super clunky, definitely looking for a better alternative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Super clunky, okay. That's one way to describe it. lol. But did it work for group messaging? Have you tried a different rom? Viper is an international rom that has changes made for Verizon to work. Maybe there is a setting or library missing from Viper. Have you asked in that thread to see if anyone else has the same issues on Verizon?

jsaxon2 said:
Super clunky, okay. That's one way to describe it. lol. But did it work for group messaging? Have you tried a different rom? Viper is an international rom that has changes made for Verizon to work. Maybe there is a setting or library missing from Viper. Have you asked in that thread to see if anyone else has the same issues on Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used CleanRom before this...really have no interest in switching ROMs but I see what you mean about it being international. I always had used Hangouts without compliant but it took a serious speed hit when it got updated/I updated to Viper

Tried many of them and constantly been sticking with Textra.

MoNsTeReNeRgY22 said:
Tried many of them and constantly been sticking with Textra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently discovered this app. Love it, its like what the new google messaging app should have been.

MoNsTeReNeRgY22 said:
Tried many of them and constantly been sticking with Textra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on Textra. I had group messaging problems too until this app. There is an option under settings to use MMS for group messaging. I think it's off by default. Try switching it on and see how it goes. It fixed my probs, particularly when texting to/from iDevices.
Sent from my Gunmetal Grey M8

Does textra have gif support in the message threads?

madzozs said:
Does textra have gif support in the message threads?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like it does. Successfully sent and received one.
Sent from my Gunmetal Grey M8

Textra does not work on Viper, tried that one as well

genheals said:
Textra does not work on Viper, tried that one as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATE: Some of the issues I have were actually due to me disabling animations in Developer Settings. Once I re-enabled animations, the issues with Hangouts "hanging" at the second to last message, rather then displaying my newly sent message, went away. The app also seems much smoother on the whole. I guess that disabling animations is a bigger detriment than benefit when it comes to Hangouts.
I still have the same group MMS issues in apps other than Hangout (people with basic feature phones only receive blank lines, rather than text). Hangouts remains the only texting app that works flawlessly with group MMS. It's a shame, because Textra is such a beautiful app.