Days after it hit the Google Play Store as a boon to Android users craving the iMessage experience, the Beeper Mini has been embroiled in controversy, thanks to Apple. Since Beeper Mini solved the blue bubble issue for non-iOS devices, the Californian tech giant found ways to block the service within three days of its release. So who’s likely to win the Beeper Mini vs iMessage war?
In a world dominated by cross-platform messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram, it’s still refreshing to see Apple using iMessage as a feature to differentiate between iPhones and Android devices. Even though it’s been more than a decade, Apple continues to provide iMessage with unique features inspired by online messaging services. The controversial “blue bubble” debacle has been a major factor keeping iPhone users from jumping ship for years, and the rest of the industry is determined to break through that barrier.
Google has been able to influence industry standards to make RCS the standard for text communications, but this is just a small step toward modernizing cross-platform texting. Although services like Beeper Mini are trying to find ways to remove this barrier, Apple continues to support iMessage with constant updates.
However, the Beeper Mini could be making a comeback, and if you want to match those coveted blue bubble texts with your friends on iPhone, here’s everything you need to know about this service that is effectively bringing iMessage to Android.
Beeper Mini for Android: is it an iMessage clone?
As we all know by now, texts from non-Club Apple members are demarcated with a green chat bubble, instead of the usual blue bubble in iMessage. To bridge this gap, Beeper Mini has come up with a way to integrate Android users into the iOS ecosystem, thus creating a seamless texting experience.
Announced in early December, the Beeper Mini is a new attempt at sending iMessage-like texts from non-iOS devices. Unlike Nothing Phone Sunbird, which uses third-party Macs as servers to relay texts to iMessage users on iPhones, Beeper Mini logs your phone number with iMessage and tricks Apple’s servers into thinking you sent an iMessage text from an iPhone.
In essence, the app simply lets you have conversations with iMessage users without revealing the identity of your Android device. You can consider it as a temporary iMessage app for Android.
Beeper Mini vs iMessage: Do Android users get all the features of the iOS app?
Compared to the wide range of multimedia features found in iMessage, the Beeper Mini currently only offers some of the basic features needed to deliver the basic iMessage experience.
Since the app registers you with a phone number, your iMessage contacts can now include you in iMessage-only group chats. Your texts will appear as a blue bubble on their iPhone, thus not breaking the continuity of the chat window and allowing for a smooth texting experience.
The app currently supports basic iMessage features like typing status, read receipts, full-resolution photo/video attachments, emoji reactions, voice messages, editing, unsending texts, voice stickers, and more.
Most importantly, the Beeper Mini doesn’t compromise your privacy and security to make you a blue bubble messenger. The service maintains Apple’s end-to-end encryption and there is no third device between your Android phone and Apple’s servers. You can also choose not to enter your Apple ID, if you have one, thus further securing your data.
Overall, you get the basic iMessage experience on your Android smartphone with this service. However, some iMessage features like message effects, live location sharing, and FaceTime integration are missing from the Beeper Mini. The developers also confirmed that iMessage games will not be coming to the app in the future.
Furthermore, Beeper Mini is only available with a paid subscription plan. New users initially get a free trial period of up to seven days, after which they must pay a monthly amount of US$10 (about S$13.44) to continue using the service. In contrast, iMessage is completely free to use for iPhone users.
Pepper Minnie’s future
Within days of the Beeper Mini’s launch, Apple figured out a way to block its access to iMessage with a new update, citing privacy and security as the main reasons. However, the developers behind Beeper Mini are determined to get the app up and running, and continue providing its services to millions of Android users.
It also remains to be seen how things will change once Apple releases RCS support for iPhones. The RCS standard will provide some basic iMessage features for iPhone users sending text messages to Android contacts (and vice versa) such as writing statuses, sending photos and videos, read receipts, and more.
(Hero and featured images: Courtesy of Unsplash)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
– Why is the Beeper Mini app not working on Android?
The Beeper Mini was the result of a comprehensive attempt to reverse engineer Apple’s messaging protocol. Hence, Apple must have prevented fake credential exploit techniques, thus disabling the Beeper Mini app on Android.
In the world of messaging, the blue bubble has become a symbol of exclusivity for iPhone users. This frustration has left many Android users wondering if they will ever be able to experience the coveted blue bubble. As more and more people seek to connect across different platforms, the question becomes increasingly relevant. So, will Android users finally get the blue bubble? Let’s explore the possibilities and potential outcomes of this long-standing debate.