Earlier this year, T-Mobile launched new Advanced Messaging and Video Calling features to offer better communication for their customers. Now AT&T has announced plans to offer similar features.
With Advanced Messaging, you’ll get features like delivery and read receipts, and you’ll also see when your chat partner is typing. Advanced Messaging also lets you send attachments up to 10MB in size. When you used Advanced Messaging, you’ll be using your SMS and MMS rates, and each text or file will be billed separately.
In order to use Advanced Messaging, you’ll need a compatible device. Right now the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini and Samsung Galaxy S6 active support the service, but you’ll first need to install an update. Once updated, you’ll be able use Advanced Messaging with another person that has a supported device and is an AT&T postpaid customer within AT&T’s coverage area.
Another new feature rolling out is AT&T Video Call, which lets you conduct HD Voice calls combined with real-time video. No additional apps or accounts are necessary.
As with Advanced Messaging, AT&T Video Call requires a supported device, which is currently only the Galaxy S6 active. AT&T says it’ll expand to other devices soon, though. If you’ve got a GS6 active, you can use AT&T Video Call once you’re in an HD Voice coverage area.
Like T-Mobile’s Advanced Messaging and Video Calling features, these new AT&T features aim to make texting and video calling simpler and better. With Advanced Messaging, you get real time chat and read receipts along with support for large attachments, which are features that other chat apps have supported before, but Advanced Messaging just replaces the old SMS. And with AT&T Video Call, you get high-quality voice with video built-in, no need for another app or username. The bummer here is that AT&T’s new services are only supported on one or two phones. Here’s to hoping that more are added quickly.
