No updates for either Samsung Messages or Google Messages. Neither app can set up chat features, Samsung actually says "Registration failed." I will post to Google help but not holding out much hope at this stage.

Just one other thing I wanted to check, under Advanced below where is shows phone number, there is an item that is ghosted out. It says SMSC 027 743 xxxx, (4 digit number shown). Is this of any significance?

Thanks.

peejayw:

 

Just one other thing I wanted to check, under Advanced below where is shows phone number, there is an item that is ghosted out. It says SMSC 027 743 xxxx, (4 digit number shown). Is this of any significance?

 

Thanks.

 

Nope

So, it registered for a brief few minutes but back to the OP problem again, I think it will take a long time for Google to match iMessage if ever, due to so many factors.