Google offers several beta versions of its Android apps, letting regular folks test out new features before they're rolled out to the general public. Today another major Android app has gotten a beta version.
Messages now has an open beta program that anyone can sign up for. Just point your browser to this page and click the "Become a tester" button to enroll your account (via Android Police). You'll then begin to receive beta updates and possibly try out experimental features before they're rolled out to the main Messages app.
You can remove yourself from the public beta and go back to the public Messages app at any time by visiting the same page that you enrolled on.
There don't appear to be any new Messages beta app updates going live quite yet, but that could change soon. Beta updates can have bugs, and that's something to think about before you enroll in this Messages app beta, but it's also pretty exciting to try out new features before most other people get 'em.
Are you beta testing any apps or updates on your mobile devices?