Google+ for Android Streamlines Comms Services

Google continues its recent run of mercilessly streamlining products by getting rid of Google Messenger on its Google+ app in an update that moves focus towards using the Hangouts platform.

The change comes in v4.1 of the Google+ app, with improvements including document and photo sharing across Android and the web via Google Drive integration, and the ability to move between Google+ accounts without having to sign out and in.

After retiring its Latitude location-sharing function, Google has started to more closely integrate location into the Google+ app, enabling users to share their location on a circle-by-circle basis. Users can also share information from Google Business Apps if this function is switched on by their system administrator.

Google Messenger is also being removed from the iOS version of the app, the company said, with users able to download their conversations from Google Takeout.