NEWS  Apps  December 11, 2023  Reading time: 2 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

The developers of the Beeper Mini Android app have announced a comeback after Apple shut down the mechanism allowing iMessage access on Android devices. However, the return comes with significant changes that may alter the user experience.

The new version of Beeper Mini now necessitates users to sign in with an Apple ID, a requirement absent in the previous iteration. Additionally, all iMessages are now sent and received through email addresses instead of phone numbers. Despite these adjustments, a fix for the inconvenience is reportedly in development.

The initial version of Beeper Mini had garnered attention for allowing Android users to send iMessages to iPhone users, mimicking Apple's blue bubble functionality seamlessly. However, Apple promptly blocked the app, citing concerns about the security and privacy risks associated with the use of unauthorized protocols.

In response to Apple's actions, the Beeper Mini team acknowledged the necessity for changes, highlighting the app's popularity with over 100,000 downloads. The app had quickly become the "fastest growing paid Android application in history," emphasizing the demand for cross-platform communication with iMessage features.

Apple, in a statement, defended its decision to block Beeper Mini, stating that the techniques employed by the app posed significant risks to user security and privacy. The company reiterated its commitment to user protection and vowed to continue making updates to safeguard its users.

Despite the setback, Beeper Mini's developers expressed a desire to collaborate with Apple, but as of now, no response has been received. The future of Beeper Mini remains uncertain, with doubts about Apple allowing the app to function as it did initially.

In the meantime, Apple has revealed plans to introduce iMessage-like features to chats between iPhone and Android users through the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol. This move is expected to bring high-quality video and images, emoji reactions, typing indicators, read receipts, and more to cross-platform communication.

Acknowledging the app's instability, Beeper Mini's developers have decided to make the app temporarily free for users. They plan to reinstate the subscription model once the app stabilizes, recognizing the chaotic nature of recent events. The unfolding saga raises questions about the future landscape of cross-platform messaging and the delicate balance between innovation and security. However, the times when Apple's lawyers used to send warnings to ordinary people just for using the Apple logo on their site seem very far away. 

 IMAGES BY BEEPER / REVIEW SPACE