Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
---|---|
Initial release | June 29, 2007 | (as SMS)
Stable release |
iOS 10.0.1 / September 13, 2016
|
Development status | Active |
Operating system | iOS |
Type | Instant messenger |
License | Proprietary |
Website | www |
Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
---|---|
Stable release |
10.0 / March 21, 2016
|
Development status | Active |
Operating system | macOS |
Type | Instant messaging |
License | Proprietary |
Website | www |
Messages is an instant messaging software application developed by Apple Inc. for its macOS, iOS and watchOS operating systems.
The desktop Messages application replaced iChat as the native OS X instant messaging client with the release of OS X Mountain Lion in July 2012. While it inherits the majority of iChat's features, Messages also brings support for iMessage, Apple's messaging service for iOS, as well as FaceTime integration.
The mobile version of Messages on iOS used on iPhone and iPad also supports SMS and MMS due to replacing the older text messaging Text app since iOS 3. Users can tell the difference between a message via SMS and one sent over iMessage as the bubbles will appear either green (SMS) or blue (iMessage).
Apple released Messages for the iPhone as a built-in application with iPhone OS 3.0 on June 17, 2009. It replaced the Text application which had been the native messaging application since the iPhone’s inception. The change in name was due to the iPhone gaining native support for the MMS protocol, in addition to the previously available SMS protocol. Even though the iPhone 3G, the newly released iPhone 3GS, and the original iPhone all received the OS 3.0 update, the original iPhone was left out of support for MMS, citing hardware challenges. Messages also gained support for sharing contacts using the vCard standard. Other big changes included support for copy and paste, and the ability to forward or delete multiple messages at a time.