In a breakthrough development, messaging startup Beeper has launched an Android app, Beeper Mini, that successfully reverse-engineers Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iMessage, bridging the gap between Android and other devices.
What Happened: A 16-year-old high school student managed to reverse engineer Apple's iMessage, which led to the creation of a prototype that could send blue-bubble messages from any device, reported The Verge.
This prototype was the foundation for Beeper Mini, a new Beeper product headed by CEO Eric Migicovsky.
Beeper Mini scans all text message conversations on a user's device, identifies iMessage users, and switches these conversations to the Apple platform. Thus, users can send messages as if they were using an iPhone.
Additionally, Beeper Mini sends iMessages directly, unlike other services that relay them through a cloud-based Mac, addressing major security issues.
It is pertinent to note that Beeper Mini does not require login details, nor does it have access to users' messages, contacts, or Apple ID passwords. The report noted that Beeper has made its iMessage code open source to ensure transparency and security.
Why It Matters: The blue and green bubble disparity between Android and iOS users has been a longstanding issue. The introduction of Beeper Mini provides an interesting twist to the narrative, especially following the sudden shutdown of Sunbird, a similar 'iMessage for Android' app, due to privacy concerns.
Despite Apple's upcoming adoption of the RCS messaging standard, Beeper Mini stands out by offering a secure solution for those interested in retaining the blue bubble aesthetics on non-Apple devices.