Android's new feature now lets you respond to text on your Chromebooks

Google has added a new ‘SMS Connect’ feature to Android Oreo’s arsenal, breaking the boundaries between Chromebook and Android devices.

The new Chrome-SMS feature is currently available as part of Android 8.1 Developer Preview for Google pixel and Nexus devices. This new feature will enable users to synchronize their messages from Chromebook. The integration may let users receive and send SMS through Chrome browser.

SMS Connect is a service hidden within this version of Android, which directly takes users to a setup screen for the service. It advertises the ability to read and reply to text messages on your Chromebook. Once the setup process is done, users have the option to read or revert to their messages either on their Android 8.1 running smartphone or through Chromebook.

Users should note that they need to turn on Enable Multi-device feature on their Chromebook by typing ‘Chrome://flags’ in the address bar and then restart the system to enable the two-way connectivity. According to Ars Technica, the way ‘SMS Connect’ feature is implemented; it seems to be exclusive to pixel devices.

Google released the Android 8.1 Oreo Developer Preview earlier this week, giving Nexus and Pixel users a chance to try the software ahead of its public release.

(Source: Deccan Chronicle)