Microsoft pulls “sending SMS” feature from messaging app on PCs with latest Windows10 Build 14376. All Hell breaks loose

“We have been testing with Windows Insiders a preview of the “Messaging everywhere” feature that allows you to receive and send text messages from your Windows 10 phone directly to and from your Windows 10 PC. The experience was well-received by Insiders however we believe we can deliver an even better experience through the Skype app. Because of this, we decided not to release this feature as part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update this summer. Starting with Build 14376 and going forward, Insiders will no longer have the ability to reply to text messages from their phone via the Messaging app on their PCs. The ability to reply to text messages on your PC using Cortana is unaffected. Going forward, we will be working with the Skype Team on delivering a great “messaging everywhere” experience on your Windows 10 devices through the Skype app. We will share more details about this experience in the months ahead.”

This led to a whole lot of Windows Insiders over-reacting and throwing fits, temper-tantrums. Even threatening to dump Windows Phone (though to be honest, if you haven’t dumped Windows Phone by now, I doubt removing the ability to send SMS via the Messaging app on your PC will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back). Because let’s face it, all Microsoft really did here is disable the ability to send SMS via the Messaging app on PCs. that’s it…

The screenshot from the messaging app below shows the only change, as you can see, the text field is disabled, now shows that this is “Read-only message”

You can still send SMS via Cortana (either use the voice command: ” Hey Cortana, send a message to Lenny to review the article” or you can type it in)

You can still send an SMS from the notification center; That’s right. When you receive an SMS, it still shows up in the Notification Center on your PC and guess what? You can reply to it from there too.

So what’s the fuss? Why the outrage? The Messaging app on PCs still works, all your SMS text messages are received there still, the only change is you just can’t send FROM THE MESSAGING APP, but you still can via Cortana or from the Notification Center.

And sure many would argue (including me) that Microsoft should have left the ability to send text messages from the Messaging app alone until the SMS integration into Skype is ready but when asked about this latest change, Dona (Head of Windows Insiders tweeted)

The main point here is Microsoft is finally (after many many years) taking Skype seriously (even though it might be too late?).

Apple’s got iMessage, Google’s got Hangouts. Both are instant message services that have SMS integrated already.

Microsoft is on the right track here, finally

Skype has been allowed to roam free since Microsoft acquired them a few years ago but as Microsoft noted…

Going forward, we will be working with the Skype Team on delivering a great “messaging everywhere” experience on your Windows 10 devices through the Skype app.

This might be the first time Microsoft will actually be working with the Skype team, I dunno!

So hopefully, we will get a much better experience when the new Skype app is ready… “in the months ahead” not “soon”

What’s worse?… “soon” or “in the months ahead”