Beeper Mini is a new app that claims to bring the iMessage experience to Android users. The app, developed by a startup called Beeper, allows Android users to send and receive messages, photos, videos, and more to iMessage users, with the distinctive blue bubbles that indicate an iMessage conversation. The app also promises to be secure and private, as it does not require an Apple ID or a Mac server to work.
Beeper Mini is different from other apps that have tried to bring iMessage to Android, such as Nothing Chats and Sunbird, which were both removed from the Google Play Store due to security and privacy issues. Those apps relied on a Mac server in the cloud to relay messages between Android and iMessage, which exposed users’ data to potential hackers.
Beeper Mini, on the other hand, uses a novel method to connect Android users to iMessage. According to Beeper’s CEO Eric Migicovsky, the app reverse-engineered the iMessage protocol and wrote new code from scratch to reproduce it inside the Android app. The app then associates a phone number with iMessage and sends messages directly to Apple’s servers, without the need for a Mac or an Apple ID.
“We jailbroke iPhones then dove deep into the OS to see how everything worked,” Migicovsky told The Verge. “Then wrote new code from scratch to reproduce everything inside our Android app.”
What Beeper Mini offers
Beeper Mini offers a simple and intuitive user interface, with a layout for chats, a shortcut button for new chat, a search bar, and a settings button. Users can choose between a light or dark theme for the app, and also edit their profile name and picture. Users can also start group chats with iMessage users, and send voice recordings, files, location, contacts, and emojis.
The app also supports blue bubbles, which are the hallmark of iMessage conversations. For iPhone users, the experience will seem like chatting with another iPhone user, as the app also shows the typing indicator when the Android user is typing a message. The app also syncs the read receipts and delivery status of the messages.
Beeper Mini is not a free app, however. Users have to pay Rs 130 per month in India, or $1.99 per month in the US, to use the app. The app also offers a free trial for seven days, so users can try it out before purchasing it.
Why Beeper Mini matters
Beeper Mini is a significant app for Android users who want to communicate with iMessage users, especially in countries where iMessage is popular, such as the US. iMessage is one of the main reasons why many people stick to iPhones, as it offers a seamless and secure messaging experience that is integrated with other Apple services. iMessage also has a social status attached to it, as the blue bubbles indicate that the user is part of the Apple ecosystem.
Android users, on the other hand, have to rely on other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, or the default SMS app, to communicate with iMessage users. However, these apps do not offer the same level of integration, security, or features as iMessage. Moreover, Android users often face discrimination or ridicule from iMessage users, who view them as inferior or poor.
Beeper Mini aims to bridge this gap and give Android users a chance to enjoy the iMessage experience, without having to switch to an iPhone. The app also challenges Apple’s monopoly over iMessage, which the company has refused to make available for other platforms, despite the demand from users and regulators.
What Beeper Mini faces
Beeper Mini is not without its challenges, however. The app is still in its early stages, and may face technical glitches or bugs. The app also requires a stable internet connection to work, as it does not support offline messaging. Moreover, the app may not be able to access all the features of iMessage, such as stickers, effects, reactions, or Apple Pay.
The biggest challenge for Beeper Mini, however, is Apple itself. The tech giant is known for its strict control over its services and products, and may not take kindly to Beeper Mini’s attempt to bypass its iMessage protocol. Apple may block or sue Beeper Mini for violating its terms of service, or for compromising its users’ security and privacy.
In fact, Apple has already taken action against Beeper Mini, according to The Verge. The company has blocked “techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage,” according to Apple’s senior PR rep Nadine Haija. This, according to Haija, is meant to protect Apple users’ security and privacy.
Beeper Mini’s developers, however, are not giving up. They have said that they are working on a fix to restore the app’s functionality, and that they are confident that they can overcome Apple’s obstacles. They have also said that they are open to working with Apple to make iMessage more accessible and inclusive for everyone.