I don't have those options in my phone's Android Messenger App yet.

I have a Messaging App in Windows 10 but it says it can only receive service messages from the mobile operator and cannot actually send texts.

Funny..email allows ( and has done so for decades now ) to send and receive messages in text ( with images and other files included or as attachments ) from desktop, laptop, and more lately tablet and phone..What "cannot live without, didn't have it before" advantage does Google's "android messenger app" bring to that party ?

Depending on one's platform OS and installed software ( and what server services one had access to ) one could even send SMS type text messages to phones..so..apart from the Google ads..and allowing Goggle to read all the messages that emanate from and are received by one's desktop..and other such things that many of us would not consider desirable..Why should one want to use Google's ( whatever they wish to call their integrated spying, tracking and ad serving systems ) via desktop..

Especially if one already has an android phone* with the app installed within hands reach when one is in front of one's computer.

*I do have, amongst my cell phones, 3 androids..none have the messenger app..nor will they..They don't need it to send SMS..and I already run my own mail server.

Leosghost - I don't think you can compare email to texting really. There's a significant difference between email and texting. Whether you run your own email server or not, round trip communication is often pretty slow by today's demands.

Many people do not check their email very often. It's become a cultural dinosaur to some. Many will get an email and not answer for days... while texting is a different mindset and the return communication is quick. They have their phone in their pocket and quickly reply.

SMS & MMS (texting) can attach almost any type files. I use it for work and send photos, maps & videos all the time.

Yes..but..as I said ..you can ( depending on your set up, and what you have access to* ) already send and receive sms ( don't know about MMS, which I block because they are the preferred attack vector on android ) on desktop..Around 10 years ago companies here were advertising SMS to and from desktops to desktops and mobile devices in ads in the back of the TV guides, along with ringtones ..so..G.."re-inventing the wheel"..with, as I said above.."spying, tracking, and ads"..no thanks..

They have their phone in their pocket and quickly reply.

You get notified about incoming emails on a phone just like you do for texts, so, could reply just as quickly ( but I know what you mean about" most people" ) after, if your email prog on your phone is "clunky", yes it might make some prefer a text app..but they already exist..for phone and desktop..( don't ask me "which" , been a few years since I used them )..and they don't come with extra "Googly bad^^^ess" ( would have used "good" with a "strike through", but, as I mentioned elsewhere I don't allow javascript here , because it calls to Google and lets them know who ( which IP address ) posted what..I don't know if "strike through" exists in the options on the comment box )

You get notified about incoming emails on a phone...

Of course, but as I said, it's a mindset. In my experience, people just don't reply to emails in a timely fashion like they do texts.

Does this mean that, alongside the existing spam pretending to come from WhatsApp, we will eventually start getting spam pretending to come from Android Thingy?

RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} Thingy - [F,L]

Hee, hee. But I meant email.

it's about time, android!
other than a mobile provider's preference to keep me on their mobile devices, i can't think of a reason why i shouldn't have the option to access the same contacts and message threads on my laptop or desktop, a device with far superior input and display options...