Apple Rumored to Be Debuting iMessage for Android at WWDC

[Michael Scrip]

I have an iPhone. I open the "Messages" app to send text messages. If the recipient is also using an iPhone... it is sent using the iMessages protocol over the internet and the bubble is blue. If the recipient is on Android, or even using a flip-phone... it is sent over the carrier channels and bubble is green.

Apple combined iMessages and plain ol' SMS into one app. It doesn't matter to me what the other person is using. The beauty of iMessages is that it's not some service you and your friends have to belong to... you simply send a text message. And if the other person is on an iPhone... it is sent as an iMessage.

But how will this work on Android?

Will you have to use the iMessages app to send text messages to iPhone users... and then use your normal SMS app to send text messages to everyone else?

Android users already send text messages to iPhone users. I don't really see the incentive for them downloading another app to do the same thing.

You might say security and encryption... which is nice... but that obviously wasn't a big deal since they were using plain ol' SMS this whole time.

I guess I need some help understanding this.

 

[Xytal]

Where. Is. My. Windows. App.

 

[Rob_2811]

What a time to be alive. Maybe they'll integrate Facetime into as well.

EDIT: I wonder if they will integrate sending money as an option as well? Transfers to anyone with an account for 10¢.

Didn't Steve jobs say that FaceTime was meant to be open source?

It was supposed to be cross platform. I believe there is a lot of hold up adding certain features to FaceTime due to ongoing patent suits..

This is a main reason to own an iPhone. Seems like an odd move if true. What would Apple have to gain?

Possible integration of the rumoured payments via iMessage service?

 

[John Mcgregor]

This is a main reason to own an iPhone. Seems like an odd move if true. What would Apple have to gain?

Shrink other messaging apps marketshare?

 

[Tinmania]

I have an iPhone. I open the "Messages" app to send text messages. If the recipient is also using an iPhone... it is sent using the iMessages protocol over the internet and the bubble is blue. If the recipient is on Android, or even using a flip-phone... it is sent over the carrier channels and bubble is green.

Apple combined iMessages and plain ol' SMS into one app. It doesn't matter to me what the other person is using. The beauty of iMessages is that it's not some service you and your friends have to belong to... you simply send a text message. And if the other person is on an iPhone... it is sent as an iMessage.

But how will this work on Android?

Will you have to use the iMessages app to send text messages to iPhone users... and then use your normal SMS app to send text messages to everyone else?

Android users already send text messages to iPhone users. I don't really see the incentive for them downloading another app to do the same thing.

You might say security and encryption... which is nice... but that obviously wasn't a big deal since they were using plain ol' SMS this whole time.

I guess I need some help understanding this.

My "assumption" is it will be able to handle plain old SMS/MMS on Android as well, essentially being the default text app. So once installed, and agree to make it the default text app (Android will ask you the first time you use it), it would work just about the same as on iOS.

But again, that is my ASSUMPTION as I can't imagine anyone liking it if it is just a separate messaging app, a la Whatsapp.



Mike

 

[Kobayagi]

Your weird most people's friends have iPhones that's why this is important lol

After reading your reply 3 times, I still can't understand what you're trying to say... And I don't think it's my English that's at fault here.

 

[stevet]

So Android users will download iMessage and create an apple id and then use iMessages? I don't know about that one.

How many Android users are using Apple Music??

 

[Tinmania]

After reading your reply 3 times, I still can't understand what you're trying to say... And I don't think it's my English that's at fault here.

I believe it was sarcasm.



Mike

 

[Tycho24]

I'd much rather see a Windows client so I can use iMessage on my work computer.

Accessing iMessage via iCloud on the web would be ill!!

 

[dumastudetto]

Why? This decision doesn't even affect you since you're on iOS. What's the downside for you? Do you think if Android users can use iMessage that a) they would and/or b)Apple would lose customers because the decision most people debate most when choosing a phone is how they text?

I don't want potential Android switchers to have one less reason to stay loyal to Apple platforms. I've heard quite a few people say they have flirted with switching to Android, but having to give up on iMessage was an absolute dealbreaker for them.

There may be some negligible benefit for people who have to communicate with Android users. Ultimately though the full iMessage experience should be limited to those who have chosen to buy and use Apple devices.

 

[Michael Scrip]

My "assumption" is it will be able to handle plain old SMS/MMS on Android as well, essentially being the default text app. So once installed, and agree to make it the default text app (Android will ask you the first time you use it), it would work just about the same as on iOS.

Yeah that would help. I don't have to decide which app to use to send an iMessage or regular text message on my iPhone.

Android users shouldn't either if it can become the default app.

But I wonder... how will Google react to Apple essentially taking over the messaging space on an Android phone?

I'm sure most Android users know a healthy mix of iPhone users and Android users. So it would make sense to use the iMessages app to message both sets of people easily.

But if Apple's iMessage app can become the default on Android phones... and Google's messaging apps will NEVER be the default on iPhones... wow... what a war.

 

[davidwes]

At the moment I have an LG G5 and I am more than satisfied with the phone. I own a Mac Pro and I have an iTunes Match & Apple Music subscription. Initially I could not afford an iPhone but since Apple released Apple Music on Android I have almost everything I need. The only service that I didn't have was iMessage to communicate with my iPhone friend owners. If Apple release iMessage for Android they lose this premium exclusivity which in my opinion is good, however I believe after this Apple should provide some innovative features on their future generation iPhones over the Android Competitors such as Samsung, LG etc. Because in the end there will not be any reason to buy an iPhone, when you can buy a device that does almost the same with half of the price of an iPhone.

How much was the LG G5 because online it looks about the same price as an iPhone.

 

[Savor]

Not like I ever used iMessages since using Viber since 2012. I like how size of the pictures and video get compressed to a small size. My Viber also replaced my Google Voice app after Google removed VOIP from GV a few years ago. I personally never cared for iMessages since I have tried to move away from Apple's ecosystem since 2013. I prefer more Google services than Apple's by far.

Just another reason for iOS users to jump to Android if iMessages is one of the reasons of holding them back. I prefer UNIVERSAL, cross-platform apps. Sony has tried proprietary for years. It has its pluses because you have more control. But it also has its frustrations because it creates more incompatibility and limits the users' choices.

 

[naeS1Sean]

That would be wonderful. Normal texts can be painful sometimes.

 

[Primejimbo]

I hate texting people on Android because I don't get responses on all my devices, I don't get read-receipts, or anything. I don't know if Android users would use this, but I'd appreciate it if they did.

I can get text and iMessages on all of my devices. I also hate the read receipts, that got turned off really quick when I got a message "I know you read my message".

 

[sniffies]

Apple should definitely introduce a new color to differentiate iMessage for iOS (blue) from iMessage for Android. Perhaps brown?

 

[AndyR]

Awesome if true as this is my only reason for not switching to Android as all my family use iMessage.

 

[samcraig]

I don't want potential Android switchers to have one less reason to stay loyal to Apple platforms. I've heard quite a few people say they have flirted with switching to Android, but having to give up on iMessage was an absolute dealbreaker for them.

There may be some negligible benefit for people who have to communicate with Android users. Ultimately though the full iMessage experience should be limited to those who have chosen to buy and use Apple devices.

I just can't..

 

[Tinmania]

Yeah that would help. I don't have to decide which app to use to send an iMessage or regular text message on my iPhone.

Android users shouldn't either if it can become the default app.

But I wonder... how will Google react to Apple essentially taking over the messaging space on an Android phone?

I'm sure most Android users know a healthy mix of iPhone users and Android users. So it would make sense to use the iMessages app to message both sets of people easily.

But if Apple's iMessage app can become the default on Android phones... and Google's messaging apps will NEVER be the default on iPhones... wow... what a war.

There are already very many texting apps available for Android and they all can be the default texting app. Also, about the only Android phones that come with Google's messaging app as default are the Nexus line, and other pure Android phones. If you buy a Samsung S7, for example, you get Samsung's messaging app as default--as well as their browser, phone app, mail app, etc.). But they can all be changed to whatever you prefer.



Mike

 

[timeconsumer]

Just another reason for iOS users to jump to Android if iMessages is one of the reasons of holding them back. I prefer UNIVERSAL, cross-platform apps. Sony has tried proprietary for years. It has its pluses because you have more control. But it also has its frustrations because it creates more incompatibility and limits the users' choices.

I couldn't agree more. I've been slowly transitioning all of my stuff to multiplatform apps instead of OS specific/proprietary. That way I'm not limited on which OS I can use. I also prefer apps that allow me to back up my App data using Google Drive or Dropbox.

I'm curious how the implementation of iMessage on Android would work. If it works similarly to iOS where it replaces the default messaging app, allowing for SMS/MMS/iMessage in the app, then I would be interested. If it's only an iMessage app where I would need a separate SMS/MMS app, then I would need to maintain 3 messaging apps as I'm sure some of my Euro friends wouldn't want to move away from WhatsApp.

 

[jz-]

Yeah that would help. I don't have to decide which app to use to send an iMessage or regular text message on my iPhone.

Android users shouldn't either if it can become the default app.

But I wonder... how will Google react to Apple essentially taking over the messaging space on an Android phone?

I'm sure most Android users know a healthy mix of iPhone users and Android users. So it would make sense to use the iMessages app to message both sets of people easily.

But if Apple's iMessage app can become the default on Android phones... and Google's messaging apps will NEVER be the default on iPhones... wow... what a war.

Android already has Hangouts as the default messaging app, which can send online messages to other Hangouts users or SMS to iPhone users. An Android user who switched to only using iMessage wouldn't be able to send online messages to other Android users any more, so it doesn't really solve any problems.

 

[hiddenmarkov]

So basically Apple is confirming that iPhone sales will continue to decline.

How so? A proprietary messaging system is kind of idiotic in this day and age really. Most are cross platform in the mobile realm. Exceptions in the computer realm of course would be stuff like lync in a M$ based office where its part of your exchanges environment. Works hand in hand with all that exchange and AD stuff...so yeah...it needs to be less open.

I see it as more of a convenience feature for current owners. Which is nice. While its nice to bring on new blood...a company should also hook up its current owners as well. Current owners who did not like what happens talking to non ios users.


And its not like people go, yep...I bought this iphone only because of the greatness of imessage. its lacking as an IM imo. I use an IM called line. Much preferred for use. Just my and 99% of the people I need to IM's preference. Others mileage may vary as always.

 

[XTheLancerX]

I have an iPhone. I open the "Messages" app to send text messages. If the recipient is also using an iPhone... it is sent using the iMessages protocol over the internet and the bubble is blue. If the recipient is on Android, or even using a flip-phone... it is sent over the carrier channels and bubble is green.

Apple combined iMessages and plain ol' SMS into one app. It doesn't matter to me what the other person is using. The beauty of iMessages is that it's not some service you and your friends have to belong to... you simply send a text message. And if the other person is on an iPhone... it is sent as an iMessage.

But how will this work on Android?

Will you have to use the iMessages app to send text messages to iPhone users... and then use your normal SMS app to send text messages to everyone else?

Android users already send text messages to iPhone users. I don't really see the incentive for them downloading another app to do the same thing.

You might say security and encryption... which is nice... but that obviously wasn't a big deal since they were using plain ol' SMS this whole time.

I guess I need some help understanding this.

No, Android is much more open than iOS, developers can make an app that fully manages ALL text messages just like normal. I'm sure Apple would make "Messages for Android" or something which would pretty much be iOS' messaging app ported over to android. It would have your automatic switching between iMessage and SMS with green and blue bubbles etc, that would be the most logical thing for Apple to make but time can only tell what happens. This might not happen at all in the first place.

So Android users will download iMessage and create an apple id and then use iMessages? I don't know about that one.

How many Android users are using Apple Music??

I'm sure it would integrate directly in with their phone number, with the ability to use an Apple ID + phone number like on iOS. They'd just have to use Apple's app to actually access their iMessages.

Apple should definitely introduce a new color to differentiate iMessage for iOS (blue) from iMessage for Android. Perhaps brown?

Hell no lol. Something more like teal would make sense. Blue-greenish, it's iMessage but to a non-iOS platform. Makes sense to me that way. Considering how bright of a blue or green apple uses currently, it might be hard to find a shade that's very easily distinguishable from the current colors for the average user.

 

[springsup]

This would be a monumental move for Apple. Really, even the most diehard Android fanboy excited by this news doesn't understand how big it would be (for Apple).

Since it was founded, Apple has been a devices company. They made great software and various services (with varying degrees of success), but it was all to support those devices.

They did actually have one world-beating service: iTunes. In fact, many people credit the ITMS with most of the iPod's success - it was an excellent, competitive service and was integrated well. But Apple always looked at this from the device perspective: iTunes was there to sell iPods. They didn't really nurture it as the excellent service that it was, and they're having to play catchup as they realise that it's okay to also be a services company.

With iMessage, they did a similar thing. They kept it closed and relatively restricted as an iOS selling point, but instant, asynchronous communication is a valuable service in its own right. There is lots of talk about bots and integrations with 3rd-parties. That's shareholder (and user) value that Apple is leaving untapped. If they do that for long enough, iMessage will become irrelevant, too.

This is Apple's business strategy waking up and getting with the 21st century.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Android already has Hangouts as the default messaging app, which can send online messages to other Hangouts users or SMS to iPhone users. An Android user who switched to only using iMessage wouldn't be able to send online messages to other Android users any more, so it doesn't really solve any problems.

Can Android users send and receive plain ol' SMS messages?

What Tinmania suggested earlier is that this rumored iMessages app could send iMessages to iPhone users and SMS to Android users.

One app to message both sets of people... just like on the iPhone.

In theory it could work on Android too.

Otherwise... a standalone iMessages app to message only iPhones users wouldn't make much sense... and probably wouldn't get used much.