Google has outlined numerous changes to its messaging services, including alterations in Hangouts. Google Hangouts no longer support SMS for text messaging between phones.
The service will continue to work as a messaging client, but cannot be used to send SMS. Google earlier said that it plans to refocus Hangouts on enterprise communications. Google is pushing Android Messages app as its primary SMS client. The company is already in talks with carriers to add RCS to the Android Messages.
RCS in Android Messages will support features like read receipts, group chat, hi-res photo sharing, and more. Also, Google Voice and Project Fi customers will continue to be able to use Hangouts for SMS in the future.
Google also plans to get rid of Google Talk within Gmail and replace it with Google Hangouts. All Google Talk users should expect to use Google Hangouts moving forward. The company will also be retiring a number of Gmail features, including Authentication Icon, Google Voice Player, Picasa previews, Pictures in chat, Quick Links, Quote Selected Text, Smartlabels, and Yelp previews. Lastly, Google will remove some Google+ functionality from Gmail, including the ability to email Google+ profiles and the use of Google+ Circles.
