iMessage for Android App 'Beeper Mini' is Back, Apple ID Sign In Now Required and Phone Numbers Don't Work

[scorpio vega]

I still think it’s funny that people think it’s the color of the bubble and not the functionality why people care.

It literally is a color lmao.
Apple is bringing RCS to iPhones which will make group chats easier (for the few androids affected) and read receipts and feature parity.

You'd think that would be the end of it...No. Android users want iMessage too so they can have blue bubbles. If you are getting RCS, then why do you need iMessage other than the ability to make your text blue so you can trick your friends into thinkiing you have an iPhone. Why that matters to Android users, idk.

You can keep saying "the functionality, the functionality" but that really is a waste of your time typing out because these people do not care about the functionality because if they did they would do like the rest of us have and MOVED ON TO A CROSS PLATFORM app that have existed for a decade and does the same as iMessage or even does more.

Grown men are whining about not getting dates or laid over a COLOR of a text message. But you want to sit here and say that it has nothing to do with a color.

Okay.

 

[scorpio vega]

Even today iPhone market share in the US including adults is under 60%. If it was organic, as in kids using what parents use, you'd see similar stats among teenagers.

Android reached the market share globally it peaked at because it's a lot more open. Any hardware vendor can release and Android device. The same exact dynamics played out on desktop computing. Windows can be installed on any hardware as long as it has the right specs. We saw closer to 90% market share for Windows. Apple's vertical integration meant Mac OS could only go as far as Apple's ability to sale machines.

In both cases yes this means poor quality devices are allowed. But it also allows for experimentation and features coming to these platforms long before they reach Apple's platforms.

Android being open is irrelevant to the average consumer. Working in the phone industry, most parents were buying iPhones for their older kids (14 and up) whereas Parents with younger kids (13 and younger) were buying Android phones.

Case in point, my roommate broke his Moto razr. He didnt want to buy a new Razr so he literally went to walmart during Black Friday and got some cheap Prepaid phone for $20 (Terrible phone).

Please tell me what iPhone you have seen being sold for $20(Not counting the free prrepaid offers since they require service to get that free price).

Windows (like Android) is open and can be installed on any hardware. But if you go to any modern college you'll likely see more Macs than HP, Lenovo, Etc etc.

I am a Surface girl through and through but I definitely see far more iPads than Surface. I don't think i have seen a Surface in the wild in years.

Anyone can say Android is more popular (it is) but ignore the reason why. It is not becuase it is better. It's because it's cheap. And thats why Android has the reputation it does for being low quality.

 

[coffeemilktea]

There must be dozens of popular messaging apps out there -- WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Discord, Messenger, Viber, etc. -- and yet somehow, people really want to use the one where they give their Apple ID to some third-party company they've never heard of before, huh? 🤡

 

[Brian.m85]

Android being open is irrelevant to the average consumer. Working in the phone industry, most parents were buying iPhones for their older kids (14 and up) whereas Parents with younger kids (13 and younger) were buying Android phones.

Case in point, my roommate broke his Moto razr. He didnt want to buy a new Razr so he literally went to walmart during Black Friday and got some cheap Prepaid phone for $20 (Terrible phone).

Please tell me what iPhone you have seen being sold for $20(Not counting the free prrepaid offers since they require service to get that free price).

Windows (like Android) is open and can be installed on any hardware. But if you go to any modern college you'll likely see more Macs than HP, Lenovo, Etc etc.

I am a Surface girl through and through but I definitely see far more iPads than Surface. I don't think i have seen a Surface in the wild in years.

Anyone can say Android is more popular (it is) but ignore the reason why. It is not becuase it is better. It's because it's cheap. And thats why Android has the reputation it does for being low quality.

My point about Android being more open has nothing to do about the average consumer and more about phone manufacturers. You're simply going to have more Android phones and more variety of Android phones thanks to it's openness. You're also going to have a history of more features. At least up until recently where the non-Apple ecosystem has not been innovating like it used to.

 

[okieoutwest]

The first time i heard of this group was when Macrumors posted about it on 12/8, just 3 days ago. Clicking through to Beeper's own blog about how they did this the first time, i saw that it was posted on 12/5.

I'm no expert on the technical details of encrypted messaging, etc., but it seems notable to me that within 1 week, (1) Beeper made headlines like this by announcing their methodology; (2) Apple closed their ability to do so; and (3) Beeper made headlines again with a second method. That's really fast. As a total bystander to this, it signals that the team at Beeper (and perhaps even at the Matrix project/ Foundation) really mapped this out and anticipated this exact sequence of events.

After this post got me even slightly more curious about it, i realized this is being pushed by a UK/EU based project, which situates it within a very different community, i think, that has been thinking about open platforms and tech in a way an Apple fansite won't necessarily agree with. (Again, as a very casual observer; but just think about the wider digital cultures that are giving birth to EU policy like GDPR vs. U.S. KOSA.)

I'm curious to read more as we find out motivations either stated or inferred and to see the ripple effects over time. I don't think $ is the root of this per se, as many commenters seem to be focused on w.r.t. the "paid app" aspect. I think that's ancillary to the actual hopes of the team(s) involved!

 

[Iwavvns]

Oh Apple has confirmed they’ll incorporate RCS, At least as reported be various sources

Well, once Apple incorporates RCS, won’t that make apps like Beeper mini obsolete?

 

[scorpio vega]

My point about Android being more open has nothing to do about the average consumer and more about phone manufacturers. You're simply going to have more Android phones and more variety of Android phones thanks to it's openness. You're also going to have a history of more features. At least up until recently where the non-Apple ecosystem has not been innovating like it used to.

I pretty much said that. Yes, the cheaper the phones the more they are going to sell. Especially in Asian Markets.

I find Apple's ecosystem doing just well and innovating. Thankfully this is not like Android where Apple throws a feature in to say they have it and it's half-baked.

I believe someone on MR literally said "Android OEMs can get away with half-as* features and get it right in a few tries but Apple is held to a higher standard so they have to get it right the first time."

 

[scorpio vega]

Well, once Apple incorporates RCS, won’t that make apps like Beeper mini obsolete?

No. Because Android users want to be blue so they dont feel "discriminated" against.

 

[BaldiMac]

Well, once Apple incorporates RCS, won’t that make apps like Beeper mini obsolete?

Pretty much. The major thing that you'll be missing with RCS is encryption. But if you care about encryption, you shouldn't be using a third-party hack.

We'll have to see how group messaging will work with RCS and iMessage.

 

[M5RahuL]

That happened rather quick!

 

[Brian.m85]

I pretty much said that. Yes, the cheaper the phones the more they are going to sell. Especially in Asian Markets.

I find Apple's ecosystem doing just well and innovating. Thankfully this is not like Android where Apple throws a feature in to say they have it and it's half-baked.

I believe someone on MR literally said "Android OEMs can get away with half-as* features and get it right in a few tries but Apple is held to a higher standard so they have to get it right the first time."


I find it funny the Android fans on the Beeper reddit who literally (over the weekend) were so upset and offended that Apple rightfully blocked the app. It's quite sad actually. Fufnny but sad.

You're argument is because they are cheap, I'm arguing because there is more choice. There's a difference. If it was all about price Samsung Z Flips wouldn't sale let alone Z Folds.

As an Android user with an iPad, I do have concerns about Apple's software development skills. I mean who releases an API without authentication for Beeper to use in the first place.

 

[scorpio vega]

You're argument is because they are cheap, I'm arguing because there is more choice. There's a difference. If it was all about price Samsung Z Flips wouldn't sale let alone Z Folds.

As an Android user with an iPad, I do have concerns about Apple's software development skills. I mean who releases an API without authentication for Beeper to use in the first place.

My argument is that there is MORE CHOICE of devices to use which are cheap. Therefore more accessibility and easy of purchasing means that Android is going to be more popular. Does not make it better (Or worse) simply because it sold more.

The bulk of Android phones sold are not Galaxy or Pixels they are lower end devices. Galaxy Z Flips are definitely not mainstream (yet) due to their price. It's why the Non Pro Versions of iPhones tend to outsell the Pro versions.

Price does play a huge part in Android's success. Certainly it is not because of the Android ecosystem which is mid at best.

 

[Rogifan]

Something tells me most of you guys aren’t anywhere near the age of the demographic you claim is being bullied.

Considering nowadays kids are speaking out against racism and other social issues do you think today’s kids would allow classism? Lmao no kids are being shamed anywhere to the degree that you guys are making it out to be over phones.

Men aren’t having trouble getting girls because of a phone. I’d argue it’s likely an issue with them and not the device.

Exactly. No way are kids actually being bullied in school because their text comes through with a green bubble. The only people who care about this are clickbait writers for The Verge and WSJ.

 

[scorpio vega]

Ahhhhh but this is Android we are talking about. You don’t pay for apps, you just use a bunch of adware instead.

B-B-But....they can change icons and they aren;t trapped in a wlled garden /s

 

[BaldiMac]

You're argument is because they are cheap, I'm arguing because there is more choice. There's a difference. If it was all about price Samsung Z Flips wouldn't sale let alone Z Folds.

As an Android user with an iPad, I do have concerns about Apple's software development skills. I mean who releases an API without authentication for Beeper to use in the first place.

Seems like the primary reason that Android has a higher global market share is because they are cheap. Apple has a 60%+ share of phones over $400. Open is only significant because it allows them to be cheap.

iPhone dominates premium smartphone market with 62% of sales in Q1 2022 | AppleInsider

Apple's iPhone took 62% of Q1 global market share for devices costing over $400, with the iPhone 13 lineup driving the sales.

appleinsider.com

 

[scorpio vega]

Exactly. No way are kids actually being bullied in school because their text comes through with a green bubble. The only people who care about this are clickbait writers for The Verge and WSJ.

I blame the users of MR who use android for perpetuating that idea.

if this was 2007 when the iPhone was exclusive to one carrier and constantly on backorder and had people standing outside in lines for hours or days on end, then I would be like okay. Because in 2007 the iPhone was the it thing becuase it was exclusive.

it's nearly 2024...the only people who care are the ones who care about a color while trying to be concerned about "functionality"

 

[NetMage]

It literally is a color lmao.
Apple is bringing RCS to iPhones which will make group chats easier (for the few androids affected) and read receipts and feature parity.

You'd think that would be the end of it...No. Android users want iMessage too so they can have blue bubbles.

You keep saying it’s the color, it’s the color doesn’t make it the color. It isn’t the color, it was never about the color, and you just double down on being wrong.

 

[BrooksWasHere]

My brother and I have the same problem he’s on Android and it’s a pain to send images such as PNGs, TIFF or GIF through standard text….

Both of us have Telegram, notifications turned on.

Problem solved.

 

[Brian.m85]

My argument is that there is MORE CHOICE of devices to use which are cheap. Therefore more accessibility and easy of purchasing means that Android is going to be more popular. Does not make it better (Or worse) simply because it sold more.

The bulk of Android phones sold are not Galaxy or Pixels they are lower end devices. Galaxy Z Flips are definitely not mainstream (yet) due to their price. It's why the Non Pro Versions of iPhones tend to outsell the Pro versions.

Price does play a huge part in Android's success. Certainly it is not because of the Android ecosystem which is mid at best.

Your argument that price is the reason Android is globally popular doesn't explain why pricier iPhones are seeing an 87% adoption among teenagers. Parents, of which some have to be Android users based on stats, aren't buying their kids iPhones because of price. Otherwise they'd easily buy $400 Android phones.

 

[scorpio vega]

You keep saying it’s the color, it’s the color doesn’t make it the color. It isn’t the color, it was never about the color, and you just double down on being wrong.

you must not be reading the same thread.
Even with RCS coming bringing the very same features that iMessage has (And likely more), people still want iMessage to say they have blue texts.

You can look at beeper's subreddit which is dreadfully lame but hilarious to read and see it.

YOU might not care but it really is about the color so they dont feel slighted for being green. People are even mad that when RCS comes that the messages will still be green.

 

[scorpio vega]

Your argument that price is the reason Android is globally popular doesn't explain why pricier iPhones are seeing an 87% adoption among teenagers. Parents, of which some have to be Android users based on stats, aren't buying their kids iPhones because of price. Otherwise they'd easily buy $400 Android phones.

Because Kids want iPhones and not Android in America lol. I wanted an iPhone when i was a teen and not android. I have never heard a kid go "Hey mom, i want that new Motorola"

LMAO. Kids want what they want. Generally speaking, Apple markets their phones a lot more than Samsung and Google therefore kids are going to want that.

It also helps that kids know about things like Apple watch (so they can text without needing their phones).

Airpods are very common and popular among teens.

Macs are also popular among teens.

Ipads.

One could argue that these kids have iPhones because they also have multiple Apple products(or their family does) and it makes it easier to do. Android can't compete with an ecosystem. Just a price.

You keep trying to change your argument. We were talking about kids being bullied and now you are going on and on about marketshare which is irrelevant.

 

[Brian.m85]

Because Kids want iPhones and not Android in America lol. I wanted an iPhone when i was a teen and not android. I have never heard a kid go "Hey mom, i want that new Motorola"

LMAO. Kids want what they want. Generally speaking, Apple markets their phones a lot more than Samsung and Google therefore kids are going to want that.

It also helps that kids know about things like Apple watch (so they can text without needing their phones).

Airpods are very common and popular among teens.

Macs are also popular among teens.

Ipads.

One could argue that these kids have iPhones because they also have multiple Apple products(or their family does) and it makes it easier to do. Android can't compete with an ecosystem. Just a price.

You keep trying to change your argument. We were talking about kids being bullied and now you are going on and on about marketshare which is irrelevant.

I was only arguing there was something to the bullying argument when you look at a market share that seems like an outlier. Then the conversation spun out.

 

[wbeasley]

What if you have many Apple devices but some Android, and want to continue conversations across different devices? Is there any chat service aside from iMessage which doesn’t allow this?

so use the other apps across platforms.
your comment proves there are options.
Apple does not have a monopoly on messaging...

what next? forcing other apps to add functions you want that they dont offer?
Candy Crush doesnt let me send video files. Make them add it...

Word doesn't layout pages like Pages. Make Microsoft add that feature.

Bottom line, no jokes, is people use what they want.
If iMessages was so bad and not useful, no one would be using it.
But they do.

Why oh why would anyone think giving your Apple ID and password to a third party was a workable solution says a lot about user behaviour and not thinking. Apple stay strong on this.

(And when Apple evenually add RCS in 2024, I hope no one knows or cares or people realise it isnt the secure solution that the whingers asked for)

 

[victorvictoria]

Enough already. Just bite the bullet and buy an iPhone!

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Beeper could have its own third party app store soon 👊