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It's not about the competition. It's about more than a billion Android users that Apple (and Apple's customers) cannot reach otherwise. Platform-exclusive messaging apps don't serve a purpose.

This! Apple could charge money for iMessage on android and the result would be a massive influx of revenue. Make it a fee per month, or year to use the service. Apple could then concentrate on making the best phones again, and all will be well :).
 
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I think Apple could keep their ecosystem profitable and customers happy by creating the Android app with only basic functionality like pictures and text.

It seems like Apple has been setting it up this way, adding features to iMessage that only a new iPhone can utilize because of the tight integration with taptic engine, etc.

It certainly feels like they're setting it up for an Android release.
 
They really need to do this. iMessage is literally useless to me as most of my friends and families are on Android, and those that do use iPhones opted for a cross platform service like whatsapp.
 
It really surprises me that there's so many messaging apps out there and not one has been universally adopted as a standard.

Whatsapp has over 400 million users. I would say that's the closest anyone has come to a universal standard.
 
I don't get that but it does seem that imessage is not that sticky outside of the US at least in my small personal experience.
WhatsApp pretty much dominates messaging in Europe, if not everywhere else, bar the States. I've known a grand total of three people who regularly use iMessage since I got my first iPhone - and I'm one of them - out of at least a hundred iPhone users.
 
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Apple could also buy WhatsApp easily, and integrate iMessage into the existing client.
 
I wouldn't instantly jump, but I sure as hell would consider it. At this point, there are three things that I love about iPhone's. Build quality, camera, and iMessage. If I could get iMessage on a OnePlus3 or even a Pixel (Allowing me to switch to Project FI) I can go with a slightly lower build quality, and a close to as good camera. It's 2016. I think the time where I have to pay close to $100 a month for an average cell phone provider is ridiculous. The price difference just switching to FI for me (I have T-mobile so I do stream music now because it's free, but I'd be just as happy downloading and playing offline) would, in a single year, pay for a new laptop. That's nuts.
 
I can't see Android users embracing iMessage. I think they would rather continue to get regular SMSs from their iOS-using friends than install yet another messaging app.
I would instantly install an iMessage app for Android provided it still integrated with SMS and used my phone number as the iOS app does.
 
I think this would be a bad choice if they offered it on Android for free. They would lose many on the fence users that stick with iPhone for iMessage. Some of you here may think this is a dumb reason, but trust me, many of my friends would never switch solely because of it. Personally, I was even gonna try the Note 7 because it was such a great phone (this was before it exploded) but iMessage held me back from pulling the trigger. Without iMessage being on iOS only, it allows users to move between OS's a lot easier than before.
 
I guess Whatsapp is the closest. I don't know anyone on Android that doesn't have it.

UK too.
I don't know anyone Android or iOS who doesn't have it. I remember experiencing slight shock when I tried to WhatsApp someone about 18months ago who didn't. I can't remember who it was now but they've probably jumped on board so it's no longer an issue.
The only friends abroad I have who don't are all based in the US.
 
They need to port apps to Android, in order to sell AWatches to Android Users....use the watch as they used the iPod!
 
But where is the multi-party FaceTime? Such a disappointment that this capability was dropped when FaceTime was introduced. iChat was truly ahead of its time, I guess.

They had that on a Modern Family episode one time and it was great! I wish they do it!

I would pay 5 bucks a month for iMessage on android. This would make them so much money if everyone on android could use iMessage with iPhone users.

Really? why is it worth $60/year vs. free WhatsApp/Telegram etc.?
 
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I can't see Android users embracing iMessage. I think they would rather continue to get regular SMSs from their iOS-using friends than install yet another messaging app.

I think you're right. Everybody I know swapped the default SMS app out with Signal though. And it's not a seamless for us iOS users unfortunately.
 
iMessage could've been the standard messaging App, but instead Facebook owned WhatsApp is quickly taking that crown in most of the world outside of the US. Honestly though if I could iMessage from an Android phone, I'd ditch iPhone. Apple still hasn't figured out how to even offer a decent sized battery at an inflated cost (you'd think they could do THAT).

Apple would much rather sell you a $900 iPhone that cost them $300 to build every 1-2 years than to sell you a $1000 iPhone that cost them $350 to build every 5-6 years. They won't improve the battery further unless they're afraid you won't buy it in the first place without them improving it.

The iPhone 6+ was a mistake on Apple's part. The battery in it is too good. I'm still using it 2 years after I bought it and it's still going strong. I expect it'll keep being good enough for at least one more year, and quite possibly another 3 years.
 
I use imessage almost exclusively because everyone i care to message with has an iphone. However, something interesting to me, several of them are now abroad. One is Spain, another in Chile, any yet another in France (all with iphones) but they now prefer to communicate with WhatsApp. I don't get that but it does seem that imessage is not that sticky outside of the US at least in my small personal experience.
Indeed, in Germany and Switzerland, Whatsapp is the dominant messaging app.
 
I think iMessage for Android is an incredibly stupid idea, and I hope it does not happen. I can understand making Apple Music available which generates revenue. But a free messaging service that is a part of the appeal of iOS. Plus doing it at a time when you see many iOS users use non Apple apps for Mail, Calendar, and so on. It really makes no sense.

Bring iBooks, Apple Movies & TV to Android. Keep iMessage for your most loyal base.
 
Not if they had a subscription fee on android. It would be a constant revenue stream from MILLIONS of customers on the android platform. Plus, iPhones are still a better hardware choice.


And no one would pay for the fee when WhatsApp does the job wonderfully on different platforms. I live in the UK and here most of people use WhatsApp anyway. My friends and relatives in Portugal and Brazil also only use Whatsapp. So all in all, I think it is a lost battle for iMessages elsewhere outside U.S./Canada
 
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I use imessage almost exclusively because everyone i care to message with has an iphone. However, something interesting to me, several of them are now abroad. One is Spain, another in Chile, any yet another in France (all with iphones) but they now prefer to communicate with WhatsApp. I don't get that but it does seem that imessage is not that sticky outside of the US at least in my small personal experience.
When I travelled to Europe last year, I had the rude awakening that WhatsApp is the standard over there. Not iMessage.

Of course, my luck, that opened up another whole can of worms on its own. I installed WhatsApp in order to communicate with my peers, but then I couldn't receive the SMS text that it sends you during setup. And unfortunately for me, I had no way to enable cell data/SMS messaging until I returned back home to the States. Believe me, I tried.

Fun times.
 
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