Google Messages is getting ever closer to a real messaging app with this new feature

Gone are the days when Google Messages was just a basic application for reading and writing SMS messages. Today, and particularly with the advent of RCS, Google has worked hard to ensure that its application catches up with the big names in instant discussion like WhatsApp, Messenger or Signal. In recent months updates are multiplying and in mid-November 2025 yet another new feature already offered elsewhere is making its appearance: mentions.

Mentions finally arrive in Google Messages

Rumored for several months, this new feature was this time seen by a handful of users directly in their beta version application (20251103_00_RC00). The global deployment to all users should therefore not take too long, even if Google seems to be still in a cautious testing phase here.

Google Messages

Google Messages is the application dedicated to SMS and MMS, on Android. It also uses the RCS protocol which allows messages to be sent even without a network with an internet connection (WiFi).

• License:
  Free license
• Author :
  Google LLC
• Operating systems:
  Online service, Android
• Categories:
  Internet, Communication

As with the competition, simply type “@” in an RCS group message for Google Messages to automatically suggest a contact to mention by drawing from the Google Contacts list (locally, obviously). Once a person is found and selected, it is possible to edit their name by deleting words (like removing the last name).

Once the message is sent, the person mentioned will then receive a notification, even if their notifications are silenced. This system therefore makes it possible to attract the attention of a particular person, even in the middle of numerous messages.