NEW YORK, U.S.: Samsung will discontinue its in-house messaging application later this year, asking users to transition to Google Messages as part of a broader shift toward a unified Android messaging experience.

The company said in an announcement on its U.S. support website that Samsung Messages will be phased out in July. Users of Samsung smartphones and other devices are being encouraged to switch to Google Messages in the meantime "to maintain a consistent messaging experience on Android."

All Samsung Galaxy devices run on Google's Android operating system, and the transition aligns with Google's broader push to standardise messaging features across Android devices.

Samsung has provided instructions for users to download Google Messages from the Play Store and set it as their default messaging app. Some users may also receive in-app prompts to guide them through the transition.

The move is expected to give users access to newer features, including artificial intelligence tools powered by Google's Gemini platform. These include an experimental "Remix" feature for generating images within conversations and AI-driven reply suggestions.

Google Messages also supports Rich Communication Services (RCS), enabling higher-quality photo sharing between Android and Apple iOS devices.

Samsung said not all users will be affected. Devices running older versions of Android, specifically Android 11 or earlier, will continue to support Samsung Messages.

Users can check their device's operating system version by navigating to the settings menu, selecting "software information," and viewing the listed Android version.

For newer devices, however, the transition is already underway. Samsung noted that its latest Galaxy 26 lineup and other recent models no longer offer the Samsung Messages app for download via the Galaxy Store.

Once the service is officially discontinued in July, the app will no longer be available for download on any supported devices. Users are advised to check within the app for specific timelines regarding when service will go offline.

Samsung did not immediately respond to requests for clarification on whether the phase-out will follow the same timeline outside the United States.