Android Gets an iMessage Competitor Called MightyText
One of the features on iOS devices that I’ve always liked to see on Android is the ability to text from my desktop, tablet, etc without needing a new phone number. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one. After a soft launch under the name Texty as a Chrome extension and the rebranding to MightyText 3 months later, the userbase is already over 250k strong with users sending over 2 million messages a day.
What’s all the fuss about? Well, MightyText allows users to send text messages from their computer (or other internet-enabled device) via the web AND send it from their actual mobile number without requiring them to get a new number like Google Voice does. Now, I decided to try it out and here’s what I thought of it. Spoiler: I love it.
Pros
- Syncs text messages so anything you send from the computer or the phone shows up on every device so you don’t lose texts.
- Allows you to continue to use any third party text messaging apps you use on your phone (so you can still use GoSMS, HandCent, etc. if you want).
- Text arrives on the desktop client a couple of seconds after it arrives on the phone
- Not restricted to sending texts to other Android devices (like how iOS iMessage can only send texts to other iOS users). Can send them to any phone number regardless of that phone’s OS.
- Can send MMS and SMS
- Uses phone’s actual phone number instead of some other number or code.
Cons
- Desktop notification (in Chrome at least) doesn’t show the name of the person, just the number. (But it does show the name once you click on it.
- UI needs improvement, not as visually appealing as others
- Deleting a thread on the desktop doesn’t delete it on the phone.
If you’d like to give it a try, head to the Google Play store here to download the app for your phone and then follow the instructions in the app to activate it and download the browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, IE, or Safari.
For more information on the guys behind the app, head to the source link below.
The notifications WILL show names if you sync it with your Gmail account. The option is given during set up, with the option to resync it when you add new contacts. I’ve been using it for a long time and it is phenomenal!
Considering the timelines… don’t you think the title should read “iOS gets a MightyText Competitor called iMessage”
Why would you say that? iMessage was announced in June 2011, MightyText came out in June 2012.
I’m a little confused as to how this is anything like imessage other than that it can go through the computer. iMessage is sending the messages over wifi/internet and not using up your texting plan (not everyone has unlimited, which is why imessage is awesome)… which can send much quicker than a regular sms and it shows when the person is typing. so it is working as an instant messaging / chat client whereas this app seems to just be relaying texts from a computer to a phone to another phone…. so how is this the same? Not to mention imessage isn’t an app that anyone using an iphone has to download or open to use, it just sends any text as an imessage if you’re in an area with internet.. enlighten me on how this app is anything similar… i’m looking for a good alternative way to bypass sending actual sms
Agreed. I’m being conspiratorical, but any positive mightytext review that fails to mention the very essence of iMessage (seamlessly preferring IP messaging over sms, with fallback to sms) just seems like an advertisement from someone who has a peculiar interest in overpriced sms earnings.