Lingo Messages ("Lingo") is an SMS/MMS messaging app for Android with on-device translation. This policy explains what data Lingo uses and where it goes. In short: your messages, contacts and phone number stay on your phone. Lingo has no servers and no account system, and the developer receives none of your data.

• SMS and MMS messages: to show, send and receive your messages as your default SMS app. They stay on your device, in Android's own message storage.

• Contacts (names, photos): to show who a conversation is with. Read from your device and not copied anywhere.

• Phone number and SIM information: to pick a SIM on dual-SIM phones and to tell group MMS from one-to-one MMS. Read on your device only.

• Notifications: to alert you to new messages, with inline reply. They stay on your device.

Lingo also stores some data of its own on your device only: message drafts, settings for each conversation (send language, translation on/off, pinned, archived, chosen SIM), app preferences, and a cache of translations so messages don't have to be translated again.

Translation

Translation and language detection run on your device with Google ML Kit. The text of your messages is not sent to Google, the developer or anyone else to be translated.

Enhanced translation (optional, off by default). On phones that support it, you can turn on "Enhanced translation" in Lingo's settings. It uses Gemini Nano, a Google AI model that runs on your phone through Android's AICore system service. When it is on, the message being translated and up to four earlier messages from the same conversation (for context) are given to that on-device model. They are processed on your phone and are not sent to the developer or to a server by Lingo. The first time you turn it on, Android downloads the Gemini Nano model from Google. AICore is a Google system component with its own terms and privacy practices; see the Google Privacy Policy.

To translate, Lingo downloads language packs from Google the first time you use a language. Like other Google SDKs, ML Kit may send Google limited diagnostic and usage information (such as device model, app and SDK version, and performance metrics) to keep the service running and improve it. This does not include your message content. See Google's ML Kit terms and the Google Privacy Policy.

Sending messages

SMS and MMS messages you send go through your mobile carrier, as with any messaging app. MMS uses your carrier's MMS service through Android's built-in MMS system.

What Lingo does not do

• No ads, analytics or tracking SDKs.

• No account, no sign-in, no Lingo servers.

• Your data is never sold or shared with third parties.

• No cloud backup of Lingo's own data (Android backup is turned off for the app).

Deleting your data

Uninstalling Lingo deletes its drafts, settings and translation cache. Your messages are kept by Android's message storage and stay available to other SMS apps. Downloaded language packs can be removed in Lingo's settings.

Children

Lingo is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect their data.

Changes

If this policy changes, the new version will be posted at this address with a new date.

Contact

aluu.labs - support@aluulabs.com