Apple shuts down Beeper Mini app enabling iMessage for Android

The iPhone maker mentioned in a press release it “took steps to protect our users by blocking techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage.” It added that “these techniques posed significant risks to user security and privacy, including the potential for metadata exposure and enabling unwanted messages, spam, and phishing attacks.”

The corporate mentioned it could proceed to make modifications sooner or later to guard its customers. The announcement comes a day after Beeper Mini, the most recent app to allow iMessage on Android units, stopped working. Apple’s iMessage gives encrypted messaging between iPhones, Macs, iPads and different units made by the corporate, and it has resisted requires practically a decade to increase the service to Android.

Some customers have lengthy argued that the dearth of an iMessage app for Android makes messaging between the 2 platforms much less safe. Apple not too long ago mentioned it could help RCS, or wealthy communication companies, later subsequent yr. That’s a substitute for the usual SMS service that may allow an improved texting expertise between platforms.

Learn extra: Apple to Adopt Texting Standard That Works With Android

Beeper was based by Eric Migicovsky, who is understood for creating the Pebble smartwatch within the years earlier than the Apple Watch and for being a part of Y Combinator, the tech trade’s most prestigious enterprise incubator.

In an interview, Migicovsky mentioned his new firm continues to work on Beeper Mini and is “feeling good” about once more bypassing Apple’s restrictions. He mentioned that Beeper Cloud — a variant of Beeper Mini — remains to be working. Beeper Mini, he says, is safer and connects on to Apple companies, whereas Beeper Cloud makes use of third-party servers.

“The passion and energy people had this week is indicative of the importance of what we’re doing,” Migicovsky mentioned. He denied that Beeper Mini creates safety points for customers, saying his app allows encrypted messaging between Android and iOS so much less safety is a false notion.

Migicovsky, who mentioned he hasn’t heard from Apple about his service, was promoting Beeper Mini for a $1.99 per 30 days subscription after a one week free trial. Apple doesn’t cost a subscription to make use of iMessage on its units.

Apple mentioned it might probably’t confirm that messages despatched by way of unauthorized techniques that masquerade the usage of Apple credentials are literally end-to-end encrypted. Different companies, together with one referred to as Sunbird, have beforehand tried to make iMessage work on Android. These efforts have been additionally shuttered by Apple.

Regardless of including help for RCS subsequent yr, Apple executives have publicly and privately shot down the concept of constructing it simpler for iOS and Android customers to speak. Final yr, Apple chief government officer Tim Cook dinner recommended {that a} consumer who wished to extra simply message along with his mom on Android buy her an iPhone.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s software program engineering chief, mentioned in an electronic mail to fellow executives a number of years in the past that “iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove an obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones.”

The corporate’s working techniques will additional open up subsequent yr within the European Union with the Digital Markets Act, which would require Apple to permit third-party app shops within the area.