Google begins rolling out iMessage responses in text messages

In the beta version of Google Messages, responses sent from iMessage are visible as emojis. Previously, iMessage responses within Google Messages were translated to text. The update is rolling out gradually among the app’s beta testers.

9to5Google first noticed the change in November in his APK Insights series. For example, if an iMessage user responded with a thumbs up to a message that read “Hello,” it would show up in Google Messaging as “Liked “Hello” before the update.

Some testers now see that the thumb actually shown as an emoji with the message. It seems that certain responses are not translated one-to-one. For example, the heart from iMessage is converted to the heart-eyes’ emoji in Google Messages. The ‘ha ha’ iMessage response is shown in Google’s messaging app as a smiling emoji. It is not clear why these responses are not translated one-to-one.

It is not yet known when the change will be available to every Messages user.