The messages battle between Google and Apple is heating up with Apple not accepting the offer to use a common messaging platforms. So Google has gone ahead to allow Android users to respond to iPhone texts with emojis. Other updates include the ability to thread responses to individual messages, embed YouTube videos directly in messages, and get automatic transcriptions of voice messages on certain phones.

Over the coming weeks, Google is updating the Messages icon “to reflect today’s modern messaging experience better and share the same look as many of Google’s other products. It takes more than one side to have a conversation, which is reflected in the design, with overlapping messaging bubbles coming together,” Google said in a statement confirming a series of changes.

Phone and Contacts apps will also be updated with the same look and feel to signal their shared purpose: “helping you communicate. There’s more to come as we continue to build new tools and features into the app — all with the safety and security of Google. Download the Messages app on Google Play today to give it a spin, and try out the new features that will begin rolling out in the coming weeks,” is the message from the software giant.