Message+

Message+ is an app that keeps you connected with Verizon Messages.

Verizon Messages is an approach to text messaging using Wi-Fi or a cellular connection. The app reviewed here is for Android smartphones and tablets, but there are other versions of Message+ for platforms like Windows 10 and iOS. This means you can stay current with your messages from practically anywhere, and that includes having access to all of the advanced features since these messages are more than just text messages.

Verizon Messages ensures that your access to your messages remained synced across smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop PCs, smart watches and other devices. Message+ lets you send messages to people in your contacts. It also lets you create or join groups. If you are a group admin, you can add or remove members. Group chats can involve as many as 250 people, which is quite large and probably much bigger than the average user is ever going to need.

Message+ is not just simple messaging app either. It supports messaging as well as receiving images and videos. You can make GIFs from videos and send those. You can also personalize your experience with items only you see, such as backgrounds, and items that all recipients see, such as avatars. The app has a range of colors, fonts, signatures and more for to use.

The app lets you edit photos as well as create collages. You can transform photos and collages with filters, effects and stickers that are all free to use. There are also themes, backgrounds, colors, fonts and more that can use to spice up your photos and your regular messages too.

You can add emotion to message by setting a particular conversation tone. A conversation not appropriate for right now? Mute it. You can browse through all of your messages using a handy navigation bar. You can sort conversations as well as filter them based on contacts, locations, photos and more. Multi-select items to delete, save, mark as read and even mute.

Message+ also gives you a vast library of emojis. The plus menu puts services like Yelp, Yahoo Search and Kanvas at your fingertips, and you can even embed these items in the messages you send. Another great feature is the one-touch driving mode. Activate this before you drive or are just generally busy. If someone messages you directly, the app will them know you can’t respond but will later.

The biggest issue we experienced with Message+ was that the sync feature, which usually worked, would sometimes just not. This may be a deal-breaker for some users, and if you look at the user reviews online, there are many complaints in that spirit. For large group chats—particularly in business scenarios—messages not showing or showing out of order make this app unusable.

Pros

• Powerful messaging apps
• Extensive personalization options
• Synchronization across devices

Cons

• Sync is unreliable at times

Bug fixes