Android users can now say ‘Ok Google’ to send messages via WhatsApp, Viber

Android users will now be able to use Google Now functionality aka ‘Ok Google’ for a lot more reasons. The company has just expanded the service to messaging apps which include WhatsApp, WeChat, NextPlus, Telegram and Viber.[caption id="attachment_275869" align="aligncenter" width="309"] Image: Google Blog[/caption]According to Google's Blog, users will be able to use this feature in English initially (not only in the US) and will be working to add more apps and languages in the future. By simply saying, "Ok Google, send a WhatsApp message to Joe", users will get a prompt asking to dictate your message. Besides, users can simplify the process and do it all in one step. For instance, "Ok Google, send a Viber message to Josh: let’s do dinner tomorrow night."[caption id="attachment_275870" align="aligncenter" width="402"] Image: Google Blog[/caption]The search engine also said that the app will now show the busiest times of the week at millions of places and business around the world. Users can just search for a particular place, type in the title and see how busy it gets throughout the day.The service was updated back in February by adding ‘Now cards’ from 40 new third-party apps to its cards list. Google has partnered with 40 popular apps to make their versions of Now cards. These apps include news sites such as Guardian and The Economist, travel sites such as Airbnb and TripAdvisor, to even language training apps such as Duolingo. Other supported apps include Shazam, Runtastic, Pandora and so on.In the past, Google Now introduced free app of the week. However, app developers who develop for Android have faced a unique problem. If the app was a paid app, changing it to a free app was good. But once free, the developer wouldn’t be able to convert it back to a paid app.