Typing status in SMS app

[djsat21]

I'm sure the other day when i was in an SMS thread in the stock messaging app i noticed words to the effect of '<contact name> is typing a message'.  Surprised me as I thought only services live Whatsapp and FB Msgr did this?  Am i halucinating?  And if not, does anyone have any insight as to how this works over SMS?  Is it Xperia/android only?  Im curious.

[VigneshXperiaS]

Hello, Are you using Hangouts as your default messaging app?

[Qatrium]

@djsat2

I never noticed this behaviour in the stock messaging app, I don't even think that this is possible with SMS services at all.

[djsat21]

Did some playing and noticed this is related to the 'chat service' option being turned on in the stock SMS app's settings.  Seems that with certain contacts (who i guess have a similar service enabled) typing status and other features like group chat and image sending (without MMS) work when this option is enabled.

[Qatrium]

This sounds as a perfect explanation, coz as I said ordinary SMS services won't listen to your device while you're editing your draft and inform the other party that you're typing. Good that you figured it out.