Google Babble screenshots leaked or more likely a mockup?

Seth Weintraub | Mar 22 2013 - 5:15 am PT

Update, March 26: After receiving the screenshots below that allegedly show Google’s rumored Babble messaging service, another anonymous tipster has emailed today sharing different screenshots. The tipster disputes the authenticity of the initial screenshots we posted below, adding that the rumored Google messaging service will not be dubbed “Babble”. The new screenshots (above) do seem to fit in with Google’s recent redesign of its mobile apps more so than the first set of images.

An anonymous tipster sent in these screenshots that appear to be the rumored Google Babble or a nice mockup:

We have no way to know if these are real, but the font looks a bit block-y and not Roboto enough and the quote “JC has started a Voting” is suspicious.

The service is rumored to combine all of Google’s messaging platforms into one and compete better with Apple’s iMessage and BlackBerry Messenger. Chatting on Google services now includes Google Voice, Google Talk, Google Hangouts, and others.

The rumors also point to a May release at Google I/O.

Me personally? I’d have given this a less than 5-10% chance of being legit.