Apple Rumored to Be Debuting iMessage for Android at WWDC

[peglegjack]

Sounds good to me.

You couldn't pay me to buy an Android, but it'd be nice to bring make some of those green friends blue.

 

[macfacts]

If you like carrier-controlled updates, bloatware pre-installed, fragmented OS, derivative, non-polished inconsistent UI, and second rate apps released after their iOS counterparts, go ahead and get an Android phone...

It is very strange that any Android phones get sold at all, considering that with all those problems you listed and some Android phones that cost the same as iphones.

 

[grkm3]

to late for me as all my friends use WhatsApp and dont really care about another texting platform.

 

[LovingTeddy]

If you like carrier-controlled updates, bloatware pre-installed, fragmented OS, derivative, non-polished inconsistent UI, and second rate apps released after their iOS counterparts, go ahead and get an Android phone.

iMessage is just the frosting on the cake for me. But I suppose if all you do is text, then any phone will do.

I love my Nexus 5X and 6P... I also love my Moto X... Both are not "carrier-controlled updates, bloatware pre-installed, fragmented OS, derivative, non-polished inconsistent UI, and second rate apps released after their iOS counterparts" both rubs circle of iPhone 6S...


Of course I love my iPhpne as well and iPad Pro. I just aren't as biased as you do

 

[617aircav]

I hope this isn't true. iMessage is awesome and it should remain a flagship exclusive feature of iOS/OS X.

How does making it exclusive make it better vs opening it up to android? If anything it makes it more useful.

 

[617aircav]

It is very strange that any Android phones get sold at all, considering that with all those problems you listed and some Android phones that cost the same as iphones.

No issues with android for me. My last was the s6. Wonderful phone.

 

[LovingTeddy]

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 still don't get the reasons why you want prevent someone's else switching to Android... And I also don't understand the special feeling you have with having an iPhone.

I love iMessages for Android. I am switching platform on monthly basis. I use iPhone for one math or two then I use Android for months or two.[/QUOTE]

 

[MrShoehorn]

Uhhhhh... if they do that, then there's no reason to use iPhone at all. I know quite a few people who use iPhones primarily for iMessage. Apple will loose a lot of iPhone sales if this happens (wait, they're already loosing sales!) iMessage is one of the only exclusively Apple things that only Apple users get. If they do this then why not iOS for android?

iMessage on android = lack of apple ecosystem

I kinda feel the same. Honestly iMessage is just about the only think keeping me from switching. Perhaps FaceTime and applepay, but there are other options for those. So Apple would probably lose me as an iPhone user in favor of an s7 or similar. (At least for one upgrade cycle anyways!)
[doublepost=1465525137][/doublepost]

But aren't most people using whatsapp? Lets say I want to use this, I also have to convince my friends, who have android phones, to download a separate app so they can talk to me? Sounds like a big hassle when everyone I know is using whatsapp.

Hmm, I know 3 or 4 people who know what that is. The rest are iPhone users. I have a few friends with androids and it's completely annoying texting them. iMessage is the only reason I haven't switched yet.

 

[Zirel]

Huh, one of the reasons I stay with Apple is because of iMessage lol. I'm really expecting big things from them at WWDC. I love Apple and don't want to change, but the grass sure is looking really green over there...

Go ahead and switch to the green side, Apple is happy to sell you a new phone when the honeymoon is over.

 

[stopthenonsense]

If Apple announces iMessage, Facetime for android, and unlimited photos like Google Photos, they may be onto something. I dropped my iCloud upgrade because Google lets me store my photos for free. And sure, it's lower quality, but I have the originals on my mac (backed up on carbonite), so why do I need high quality online? Apple needs to get into the services business and stop worrying about making money off of hardware sales. microsoft has had two ****** OS releases and yet Apple has not capitalized on that! It really is time to open OSx to manufacturers. It will not hurt Apples Mac sales one bit, because the people that are buying apple computer will keep buying apple computers

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Could it be in response to the incoming allo and duo (or something like that)? The new, secure, cross platform messanger and video chat coming from Google? It looks to be the perfect solution, so apple might see the writing on the wall.

 

[MRU]

So a positive thing generally bar some users having issues with iMessage, is coming to Android and this is a bad thing ?

 

[BlueGoldAce]

So a positive thing generally bar some users having issues with iMessage, is coming to Android and this is a bad thing ?

Only a good thing in my mind.

Isn't imesssge one of the biggest reasons people here report holding them to iOS?

 

[MRU]

Only a good thing in my mind.

Isn't imesssge one of the biggest reasons people here report holding them to iOS?

Yes it is touted very often as a reason someone will stick to iOS. So with it open to Android users it would be a positive step. Likewise for multiplatform owners it's a great step as it now means I can have my messaging synced across all my multi OS devices rather than just my Mac & iOS ones.

It's a positive thing. No one is forcing anyone to use it. It won't come pre-installed on your android device, so why would such a move cause so much vitriol ? Goodness forum people are finicky creatures at times.

 

[Carlanga]

If Apple announces iMessage, Facetime for android, and unlimited photos like Google Photos, they may be onto something. I dropped my iCloud upgrade because Google lets me store my photos for free. And sure, it's lower quality, but I have the originals on my mac (backed up on carbonite), so why do I need high quality online? Apple needs to get into the services business and stop worrying about making money off of hardware sales. microsoft has had two ****** OS releases and yet Apple has not capitalized on that! It really is time to open OSx to manufacturers. It will not hurt Apples Mac sales one bit, because the people that are buying apple computer will keep buying apple computers

Yeap, but remember they are going the other way. They even remove the free w ads radio stations.
My iPhone is basically filled w almost all the google apps.
I use google photos and google music to store all my songs and photos for free and to hear free stations. Google drive is pretty big and Google maps is much better than Apple maps in all its features.
Even the Amazon music app for prime
Member has lyrics that accompany songs like karaoke. If it were not for the quality of the hardware I would have moved away already. What's worse is they have the centers and the money so it doesn't cost them too much to give a few more gigs of storage or free ad supported things. They think people will buy all their sub services and that is where they will fail.

 

[The Game 161]

Only a good thing in my mind.

Isn't imesssge one of the biggest reasons people here report holding them to iOS?

yes a big reason

One of my main reasons my iphone is my daily driver

If i can text on my S7 edge and still get the same messages on my ipad thats a bonus.

 

[bowlen]

This is a brilliant idea. It will now mean that everyone will be using iMessage and I don't have to worry about sending those archaic txt messages to people who don't have iPhones...

 

[Surf Donkey]

Yes it is touted very often as a reason someone will stick to iOS. So with it open to Android users it would be a positive step. Likewise for multiplatform owners it's a great step as it now means I can have my messaging synced across all my multi OS devices rather than just my Mac & iOS ones.

It's a positive thing. No one is forcing anyone to use it. It won't come pre-installed on your android device, so why would such a move cause so much vitriol ? Goodness forum people are finicky creatures at times.

Honestly, I don't understand iMessage I guess. To me it is just another messaging platform and there are dozens out there. The only difference is people think you're cool if you have blue text bubbles?

I'd just rather see RCS (or some variation) implemented across all platforms. Anything else is just fragmenting to proprietary messaging apps further. Including Duo and Allo.

 

[The Game 161]

Honestly, I don't understand iMessage I guess. To me it is just another messaging platform and there are dozens out there. The only difference is people think your cool if you have blue bubble?

I'd just rather see RCS (or some variation) implemented across all platforms.

It's not about being cool but when alot of people's friends have it and use it that is a deciding factor for alot of people. Most are just so used to it. Same as myself where I don't need to pick my phone up at times when i can just text off my ipad when im using that.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Honestly, I don't understand iMessage I guess. To me it is just another messaging platform and there are dozens out there. The only difference is people think you're cool if you have blue text bubbles?

I'd just rather see RCS (or some variation) implemented across all platforms.

You are not incorrect.

Essentially Apple made iMessage a default method of communication for millions of iPhone users, so now everyone's used to it. So everyone find it hard to move away from it. Personally, it is just another messaging service, a dime a dozen.

 

[Surf Donkey]

It's not about being cool but when alot of people's friends have it and use it that is a deciding factor for alot of people. Most are just so used to it. Same as myself where I don't need to pick my phone up at times when i can just text off my ipad when im using that.

And other messaging apps have desktop/tablet integration as well? I text with loads of people on iPhones from my desktop.

 

[gotluck]

Would love imessage on Android. WhatsApp just isn't used by many people I know, same with hangouts. Hope FaceTime comes too

Bring it to Windows PCs too though, imessage at least

 

[x0vash0x]

This is the absolutely stupidest thing Apple could do. It's wishful thinking and nothing more. There is zero incentive for Apple to do this. There's no monetizing this. So what would be the point? It would just give people an incentive to switch to Android, unless it comes without FaceTime.

Honestly, from a business standpoint, this makes zero sense.

 

[The Game 161]

And other messaging apps have desktop/tablet integration as well? I text with loads of people on iPhones from my desktop.

The average person aren't aware of other apps. Imessage is what people know and stick to as it's dependable. If the same thing is being marketed then that will make things more interesting

 

[Surf Donkey]

The average person aren't aware of other apps. Imessage is what people know and stick to as it's dependable. If the same thing is being marketed then that will make things more interesting

Makes sense.

I guess my concern would be more fragmentation confusion. If it is like hangouts, then videos, pictures, etc are stored in the cloud and shared that way. So now we bring iMessage to Android, then I assume I will need an iCloud account to have those services. Now my pictures are in Google photos and iCloud. Stuff is getting backed up everywhere with Apple trying to sell me Cloud services. Seems like Ghostbusters crossing the streams stuff here. I don't like the idea, but maybe it can be done cleanly. If it is anything like iTunes on a PC, I personally will stay far away from it.