Beeper Declares iMessage on Android ‘Unsustainable’ Post Jailbroken iPhone Solution
Beeper, the determined messaging platform striving to bridge the gap between Apple’s iMessage and Android phones, appears to have reached a critical milestone with its recent service update. Despite several persistent endeavors aimed at enabling iMessage functionality on Android devices, which previously involved intricate workarounds requiring access to a Mac, Beeper has reluctantly admitted that its continued efforts to bring this sought-after messaging service to Android are no longer viable. Surprisingly, the company revealed its future roadmap mere hours subsequent to announcing the discovery of a seemingly stable solution allowing iMessages to operate on Android for Beeper Mini and Cloud users.
It its blog post published late Thursday, Beeper said it did not have any plans to revive its efforts if its latest iMessage fix was thwarted by Apple. “Each time that Beeper Mini goes ‘down’ or is made to be unreliable due to interference by Apple, Beeper’s credibility takes a hit,” the company said in its blog. “It’s unsustainable. As much as we want to fight for what we believe is a fantastic product that really should exist, the truth is that we can’t win a cat-and-mouse game with the largest company on earth.”
Beeper said that it expected Apple to tolerate its latest software release and that the iMessage connection software behind Beeper Mini and Beeper Cloud was being made open source. “Anyone who wants can use it or continue development,” Beeper said. The company will now focus on its long-term goal of building “the best chat app on Earth.”
n the blog, Beeper also responded to Apple’s claims that its app posed “significant risks to user security and privacy.” In its detailed rebuttal, the company said that Beeper Mini was not a malicious app and was secure, contrary to claims made by the iPhone maker.
Beeper’s latest update came soon after the company said that phone number registration on the Beeper Mini app was back, which would allow Android phone numbers to show up in blue colour in iMessage. Beeper users, however, would need to access an old jailbroken iPhone, a Mac computer, or find a friend with a Mac.
Beeper left detailed instructions to get iMessage working reliably on Android in a separate blog post announcing the jailbroken iPhone fix for phone number registration. For Beeper Mini users on mobile devices, an old jailbroken iPhone (6/6s/SE1/7/8/X) would do the trick.
Just recently, Beeper rolled out an iMessage remedy for Android devices, introducing a workaround that mandated users to connect with a Mac computer for optimal functionality. Enabling this service necessitated the registration of a Mac, empowering Android users to send iMessage texts within the distinctive blue bubble. Yet, a crucial caveat emerged: sustained access to a Mac became imperative for the seamless operation of this messaging service on Android devices.
Despite Beeper’s persistent efforts to implement multiple fixes and alternative methods to enable iMessage functionality on Android devices, Apple has consistently hindered these attempts, citing concerns related to privacy and security. Addressing the issue in a statement provided to The Verge, Apple disclosed that it had actively intervened to impede Beeper Mini’s access to iMessage, identifying its utilization of “fake credentials” as the basis for this action. Emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding user security and privacy, Apple clarified that it took decisive measures due to the perceived substantial risks posed by Beeper’s techniques.
