Google Testing @Mention for RCS Group Chats in Messages App

Google Messages is making group chats more interactive. The company has started testing a new feature, @mention, that allows users to get someone’s attention in a group conversation. The feature is currently available in the beta version of the app (v20251103_00_RC00), allowing early testers to try it out.

Google Messages makes group chats smarter with @mention

In recent years, Google has put a lot of effort into making its Messages app more modern. The app has gradually added features that bring a similar experience to popular messaging apps like WhatsApp. Thanks to the RCS chat capability, users can now enjoy features such as read receipts, typing indicators, sending high-resolution photos, and sharing files.

Now, the new @mention feature makes group conversations on the Messages app more organized. When you type the @ symbol in an RCS group chat box, you will see a menu of contacts. The description reads, “Try @ to get their attention. They’ll see @mention even if their notifications are muted.”

From there, you can select the person you want to mention in your message. This is particularly helpful in large group conversations where messages can quickly pile up. Now with @mention, you can draw attention to important points without interrupting the flow of the chat.

If you don’t want to reveal how you have saved the contact’s name, Google Messages lets you edit the display name before sending the message. For example, you can remove a last name or shorten the name so that it shows up differently to others in the chat. For contacts not saved in your phone, the @mention will display the phone number.

At the moment, Google has not shared when it will make the @mention feature available to everyone. However, its appearance in the beta version of the messaging app suggests that a wider rollout is just around the corner. We’ll let you know when the feature hits the stable channel.