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

[scorpio vega]

HasWhy? iOS is inferior

Lmao because we can’t change icons or add some launcher? BuT My CuStOMizAtIoN…..

Android is a mid at best software that does a lot and nothing good.

But lets brag about being apple to download multiple stores or buying phones where most phones released are already running last gen software and unless you spend money on Samsung or pixel, hope your phones are actually updated.

Or depending on which android you by it is fragmented because one phone might have features and software that the others don’t.
I could go on and on.

But hey at least you can change icons and brag about how much better google is than apple.

While you guys are trying to use apple
Services (imessage). The irony.

I mean if you wanna be a Legal Larry about it… Hard to argue that it’s immoral, though.

I mean if you want to try and justify piracy go
For it.

And this is why android and its users get the reputation it has.

I agree with you, but I understand Apple’s reservations. I would 100% have an Android if it weren’t for iMessage. Instead I buy a new Pro Max every single year. No doubt there are many like myself out there.

Lmao if iMessage is the only reason you buy iPhones that’s quite sad but I guess we all have our reasons. Despite there being multiple apps that already do what iMessage does and is cross platform.

When I am forced to use android I don’t think I ever went “golly gee I wish i had blue texts right now”

It’s about 4 iPhone users being in a group chat and that 1 Android user ruins it for everyone. Then people say to the person “get an iPhone” so we can use blue bubble messaging.

I see these tweens of mine and there’s no worse peer pressure than with that generation.

Plz stop using kids and trivializing them over a phone preference. Most kids are not bullying kids over a phone.

Only a mater of time before Apple shuts it down again. Also not a good idea to give Apple ID credentials to a 3rd party app.

They use android. They’re used to downloading shady stuff. It’s kind of the appeal of android so I’m sure they aren’t worried about their credentials being used if that means they can stick it to apple.

 

[LonerATO]

I’m sorry you feel this way. Retro gaming shouldn’t need to be a privilege. And playing them in a modern fashion shouldn’t be frowned upon, especially if they’re long out-of-print.

How is it a privilege? Save your money and purchase what is necessary to run the game(s).

 

[HMI]

How in the world was this not blocked from all possibility on iMessage day 1? Does Apple not actually expect this to happen and think to block these security issues from their early planning stages? Seriously! WTF!!

And how does this app maker actively reverse engineer protocols and hack into Apple servers, thereby reducing security, but then go and advertise their app as more secure?

 

[Motorola68000]

I couldn't care less if Apple has a tizzy fit over iMessage on Android. We need cross-device interoperability today more than ever. The lack of transparency with these companies is what really concerns me. Refusal to Open Source even the basic portions of the app is just asking for trouble, especially from a company that claims that level of encryption. Even Apple strongly supports OSS from a security standpoint, these people are just grifters begging for personal data.

cross device interoperability? Well I can recall how Sun Microsystems built Java to be platform independent, then along comes Windows and bastardises it which to some extent made it platform dependent, with all the problems that caused with cross device interoperability.

There are though already many existing applications a user with iPhone and Android, Wintel/Apple can communicate adequately, both as a message, a call or even video call, without compromising security.

Apple are right to consider the security implications especially if it could potentially compromise security in any way.

Sometimes though the striving for cross device interoperability can result in dumbing down systems, to be same same, which can thwart innovation. The EU and other governments often use the ruse of cross device interoperability to dumb down security, as their aspirations are nothing to do with technical competence, nothing to do with pushing technological advances, but more about their interest in having a gateway into all systems.

I got into Apple because of the difference.

Viva la Pomme différence​

 

[zapmymac]

Just use Signal. easy peasy...

 

[Velli]

Messenger and WhatsApp literally do the same exact thing you can do with iMessage. The only benefit of iMessage is the fact it is built in To the phone software.

Which makes them not “literally the same thing”.

Just one example, not the only thing: I do enjoy getting Memojis from my daughter.

Sounds to me Line you don’t actually ude iMessage, especially across devices.

 

[laptech]

Not everyone can afford an iphone but Apple does not care about this? no they don't because as far as they are concerned, if people want to communicate with each other via imessage then both people must have an iphone and if one party has an iphone and the other an android phone then tough luck. The arrogance of Apple knows no bounds.

 

[scorpio vega]

Which makes them not “literally the same thing”.

Just one example, not the only thing: I do enjoy getting Memojis from my daughter.

Sounds to me Line you don’t actually ude iMessage, especially across devices.

I use iMessage and messenger on my iPad and iPhone.

I can’t honestly remember when I have used or any of my friends have used Memojis lmao. Your daughter sounds younger than me (27) therefore it makes sense why she would use it and why you prefer it.

Aside from niche features like Memoji yes messenger is literally identical to iMessage. The only difference being iMessage is natively built into the phone. Which doesn’t matter to me since I have Facebook/insta/whatsapp/messenger already.

As an American woman I never thought of blue bubbles until this forum other than blue is iPhone and thus it’s easy to do things like Apple Pay or quickly share a file from Apple Music or directions to the party.

Android is green.

Other than that it was simply just texting to me and something I can replicate on any cross platform app.

Same with FaceTime. We simply just zoom even though we all have iPhones.

 

[Velli]

It’s about what iMessage isn’t bringing to the table.

You misunderstood: Imagine Apple brings iMessage to Android. What does that provide Android users with, that they can't get already from other apps? iMessage won't be built into the standard messaging app the way it is on iPhone, so Android users will still have a seperate app for iMessage.

100,000 signups for a sketchy app which was guaranteed to break in a couple of days is insanely indicative of the demand.

If Apple released iMessage for Android officially I guarantee it’d break records for first-day app downloads.

But is it indicative of an actual demand, or of hype?

The assumption here is that if Apple did that, everyone would start using the same messaging app (iMessage), the fragmentation would go away, and we would all be singing "kumbayah" and the world would be a happier place with only one messaging app to deal with. That's just not going to happen.

I also by the way don't believe RCS will bring this, because the fragmentation already happened. Lots of people will just don't care and continue to use Whatsapp.

 

[Velli]

Same with FaceTime. We simply just zoom even though we all have iPhones.

So, bringing FaceTime to Android would not change your behaviour.

 

[Radon87000]

My Galaxy S23 Ultra and Z Fold 5 are the 2 most favourite devices I have ever owned. My 14 Pro Max is gathering dust once I started using the S23 Ultra. Universal Back gesture on the right side is so ergonomic I don't think I can use an iPhone anymore.

If Apple thinks keeping iMessage on iOS will cause a mass exodus to iPhones, they are mistaken. The vast majority of flagship Android buyers buy an Android because of its unique features not found on iPhones.

I am not moving from my S23 Ultra no matter how much Apple tries to stop me from communicating with iPhones. Your move Apple

 

[Velli]

I used Android after ditching my iPhone 6 right up until I purchased an iPhone 14 Pro and during that time iMessages never once came to mind. Having used RCS messaging on both Google and Samsung devices during that time and now using iMessage, iMessage doesn't do anything I couldn't do on Android. Even if it did, I certainly wouldn't have paid a monthly fee to use it.

Which is why Apple has no incentive to bring it.

I get that as a consumer we want everything all the time and pay nothing. I'm looking at it from the company's point of view, does the company stand to benefit? I totally understand people saying "hey, what they have overthere is cool, I want that too". What I don't agree with is the notion that because something would be good for the users the company will inherently benefit, so they are stupid for not providing it. It has been proven many times in any industry that the best business case lies in a balance between benefiting the user and the company (do I have to spell out win-win here?), not purely in providing what's best for the user. If the latter was true, everything would be free, or at least sold at cost. Which is obviously not true.

 

[dz5b609]

I’m in favor of anybody being a pain in the ass for Apple as long as they continue to let this issue fester.

I’m hoping RCS alleviates a lot of the headaches, but if it doesn’t, then the only way Apple can end this stupid issue is to release iMessage for Android.

Ah yes the MASSIVE issue of a green instead of a blue bubble.

 

[Velli]

Apple users constantly bring up this topic about the color of the bubbles… Android users couldn’t care less about the color, it’s the features that’s behind it.

The color is just an indicator, and it is relevant because as an Apple user there are things that you can do with "blue bubble people" that you can't do with "green bubble people", such as effects and emojis, and seamless group chats, or Facetime them etc. It's not (just?) about bragging that you also have an iPhone, it is because two iPhones communicating with each other have features that you don't have across platforms. If Android users start showing up as blue, but without these features, the experience of using iMessage on Apple products might be worse, or at least confusing.

So you are right, the color of the bubbles doesn't have value or meaning to Android users, but it DOES have value and meaning for iOS users.

The problem is that providing Android users with ALL the features of iMessage can't be done with just an iMessage app. At the very least, it requires a Facetime app as well. And now you start going into a world where you're providing too much of your competitive advantages to your competition. And you have to do it for free, otherwise you won't get everyone to use it, which negates the whole argument of doing it in the first place.

In other words, this whole issue should (and apparently will) be solved by adding RCS to iPhone, not by adding iMessage to Android.

Or, by adding "Google Messages" to iOS... Which is oddly apparently not a thing.

 

[scorpio vega]

So, bringing FaceTime to Android would not change your behaviour.

I don’t see why you need FaceTime.

Everything doesn’t need to be made for everyone. I don’t see anything wrong with companies having their software made for their products exclusively

Apple has never been an open source company. They are and always have been about an ecosystem. Now yes I can use android and Apple Music. But the experience is better in apple.

You can actually FaceTime with android users you simply can’t use FaceTime the same way you do on an iPhone.

I actually did a FaceTime call the other week using my google voice number.

 

[Velli]

My Galaxy S23 Ultra and Z Fold 5 are the 2 most favourite devices I have ever owned. My 14 Pro Max is gathering dust once I started using the S23 Ultra. Universal Back gesture on the right side is so ergonomic I don't think I can use an iPhone anymore.

Good for you. Honestly.

If Apple thinks keeping iMessage on iOS will cause a mass exodus to iPhones, they are mistaken.

It won't, but it IS one piece of a larger puzzle.

Apple has openly stated that they are not trying to make devices for everyone. But they are really, really good at capturing the most valuable segment of consumers, which is why they are making all of the money.

As big of an Apple fanboy that I openly am, I have always argued that Apple products are not for everyone. If you don't want to pay for a quality experience, get a cheap Android. If you want to pay for a quality experience AND has specific needs that aren't covered by iPhone, get a high-end Android (you won't get the same objective "quality", and if you think you do you are the sheep - but you will as you stated get features not available on iPhone). All the people who has relatively mainstream use cases and want to pay for a quality experience, get an iPhone.

The second part of that argument is that the group that "should" get a high-end Android based on this logic is, in fact, very very small. But, advanced users always - ALWAYS - overestimate the requirements of "normal people", and overestimate the amount of advanced users.

The vast majority of flagship Android buyers buy an Android because of its unique features not found on iPhones.

Good for them. I think Apple has proven it can survive without them.

 

[scorpio vega]

If Apple thinks keeping iMessage on iOS will cause a mass exodus to iPhones, they are mistaken. The vast majority of flagship Android buyers buy an Android because of its unique features not found on iPhones.

The vast majority of android users buying android flagships are usually able to talked into
Them. Source I used to work for a telecom for several years.

What I have learned and even seen with my own eyes is sales reps go out of their way to push flagship android phones.

One could argue, it’s because iPhones sell themselves.

Towards my tenure and even after moving on, any android users I have talked to switched to iPhone has thanked me.

Android is a subpar Os and I would rather walk on broken glass for the rest of my life before I ever use it as a daily driver. I cringed earlier using my galaxy lmao.

The apple ecosystem significantly trumps google and Samsung offerings and that’s precisely why apple is able to sell itself with minimal effort. Apple doesn’t offer carrier incentive to reps to sell their phones because they don’t need to.

iMessage isn’t what keeps people on iOS but there is no benefit for apple to bring iMessage to android simply because they are aware that they aren’t going to make a dent in the messaging world. A world where WhatsApp and messenger and telegram all
Ring supreme.

It’s just a waste of resources. There’s a reason why safari isn’t on windows despite windows being the most popular. Nobody used it and it is a waste of
Resources.

 

[scorpio vega]

The second part of that argument is that the group that "should" get a high-end Android based on this logic is, in fact, very very small. But, advanced users always - ALWAYS - overestimate the requirements of "normal people", and overestimate the amount of advanced users.

I always try to tell android users that you do realize that out of 3 billion android activations that none of them are mostly flagship devices.

In the top 10 smartphones I am almost positive that Samsungs most popular phone isn’t actually a galaxy decide from their s line. It definitely isn’t from their fold lines.

Their most popular phone is from their a line aka budget.

 

[Velli]

I don’t see why you need FaceTime.

You don't "need" it, but the integration between these services is part of the benefit.

Everything doesn’t need to be made for everyone. I don’t see anything wrong with companies having their software made for their products exclusively

Apple has never been an open source company. They are and always have been about an ecosystem. Now yes I can use android and Apple Music. But the experience is better in apple.

Partially because it is a closed system. Which is why I am not inherently against closed systems. They tend to have better experiences than open systems, IF your use cases falls within the limitations. This is true in many other areas, not just IT.

I can give you an example: If you connect a CD player and an amplifier with a standard RCA cable, you get sound through it. But many companies have proprietary communication links that provide additional features, such as syncronized on/off, automatic input levelling etc. It generally always works, because the manufacturer just needs to make sure that their own products speak together. Now, along comes HDMI CEC with an "open" (with a license) communication protocol, that can communicate across brands. It has caused almost two decades of headaches for installers, because it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, and when it doesn't there's not much you can do about it other than turn it off (admittedly it has gotten better recently but it took a LONG time). Once again, the open standard is more advanced, can do more things, but is a mess to use.

You can actually FaceTime with android users you simply can’t use FaceTime the same way you do on an iPhone.

I actually did a FaceTime call the other week using my google voice number.

I did not know this, but even so, it proves my point that the experience will not be the same as using it on iOS, which negates the validity of providing it in the first place.

There are plenty of cross-platform communication services. Why is it so important that Apple provides one? Why doesn't Android just develop a free, open cross-platform service and make it available on iOS?

 

[scorpio vega]

You don't "need" it, but the integration between these services is part of the benefit.

Well the integration is why I have an iPhone if i wanted integration. Same as with Google. If i was heavily entrenched into the Google ecoystem, I'd use my Galaxy as a daily drvier.

I did the same with My Lumia when I was heavily into the Microsoft ecosystem.

I dont expect feature parity. It would be great but in many cases unrealistic expectations.

Partially because it is a closed system. Which is why I am not inherently against closed systems. They tend to have better experiences than open systems, IF your use cases falls within the limitations. This is true in many other areas, not just IT.

I agree. Open Source is cool for the choice of options but I appreciate Closed Source software for the actual dedication and time that is put into the product. More often than not, you have so many more hurdles to jump through and while I am tech savvy and can self-support myself in a lot of tech situations, i like having someone else to do it for me lol

I can give you an example: If you connect a CD player and an amplifier with a standard RCA cable, you get sound through it. But many companies have proprietary communication links that provide additional features, such as syncronized on/off, automatic input levelling etc. It generally always works, because the manufacturer just needs to make sure that their own products speak together. Now, along comes HDMI CEC with an "open" (with a license) communication protocol, that can communicate across brands. It has caused almost two decades of headaches for installers, because it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, and when it doesn't there's not much you can do about it other than turn it off (admittedly it has gotten better recently but it took a LONG time). Once again, the open standard is more advanced, can do more things, but is a mess to use.

I get what you mean in the case of RCS VS SMS but I am (for whatever reason, idk) a part of Android subs on reddit and I was actually reading a post about RCS>

For all the greatness that Android fans will have you believe, RCS itself (the Google version) is still a mess because unlike Apple with iMessage which can fall back to SMS/mms, RCS a lot of times does not fall back so a user can send a message thinking it has been sent only to look back an hour later to see that the message is still pending and hasn't sent becuase it didnt fall back to SMS.

That reminded me of the many times with switching from wifi to 4G/5G when i use my galaxy and the text message wouldnt send through RCS because for whatever reasosn it showed no data instead of simply transferrng over.

But Android fans on Macrumors will have you believe that RCS is the be all, end all and as I am reading from Android fans on Reddit (who seem a bit more.....well-versed), that is not the case at all.

 

[Velli]

The vast majority of android users buying android flagships are usually able to talked into
Them. Source I used to work for a telecom for several years.

What I have learned and even seen with my own eyes is sales reps go out of their way to push flagship android phones.

One could argue, it’s because iPhones sell themselves.

I agree with the whole post, but this is the key part: Because iPhones "sell themselves", sales reps are incentivized to sell Android phones, through commisions. And more people than we like to think about will actually follow the recommendation of a salesman on commision (which is why they get them!). I am totally willing to believe that a significant part, if not the majority, of high-end Android users are only Android users because they were convinced by a salesman. I do know several people around me who got convinced buy a salesman to spend LESS money to get an Android phone, under the promise that "it does all the same things at half the price", only to switch back to iPhone a few years later.

 

[scorpio vega]

I did not know this, but even so, it proves my point that the experience will not be the same as using it on iOS, which negates the validity of providing it in the first place.

There are plenty of cross-platform communication services. Why is it so important that Apple provides one? Why doesn't Android just develop a free, open cross-platform service and make it available on iOS?

Yeah its not too terrible. We have to initate the call and send the link to the Android user and then they accept the link and for all intents and purposes it works just as Facetime would.

It's like a one way Zoom invitation.
You cant use memojis and you can't screen shot but you can talk with iPhone/Android users and still do mass group chats as well.

Google HAS tried to create apps they just suck lol.

1. Google +
2. Google hangouts
3. Google Allo and Duo
4. Google Meets

All 4 of those have been created within the last 10 years and all of them except Meet have failed and been discontinued lol. It's weird to think that 3 billion users on Android and NO ONE wants to use Google products and makes you see why Google is so desperate for iMessage and Facetime native apps because nobody wants to use their products lmao.

Android users use Zoom or Slype or whatsapp or telegram.
The only time i have ever used Google meets was when I had to do it for my law class lol and even then Google meets was such a mess the professor sent us a zoom link.

 

[scorpio vega]

I agree with the whole post, but this is the key part: Because iPhones "sell themselves", sales reps are incentivized to sell Android phones, through commisions. And more people than we like to think about will actually follow the recommendation of a salesman on commision (which is why they get them!). I am totally willing to believe that a significant part, if not the majority, of high-end Android users are only Android users because they were convinced by a salesman. I do know several people around me who got convinced buy a salesman to spend LESS money to get an Android phone, under the promise that "it does all the same things at half the price", only to switch back to iPhone a few years later.

Exactly.
I worked based off Comission for T-mobile, Boost, and Verizon. I also used to work Unrelated at GNC (the vitamins and Supplement place).

I am going to be completely honest with you. I know nothing about vitamins, supplements, testosterone boosters, etc etc. I honestly didn't. I got paid 7.25 an hour (minimum wage for NC). What I DID know was the products that got me comission. That $85 test booster that will get me $18 in commission. Oh but if i sell 10 of those in a week, Then it doubles to $36

Did those people probably need the $85 test booster? Probably not. They could have easily gotten by with the knockoff brand lol.

Same with Sales Reps. They are going to push what makes them money. Be it a plan, an accessory, insurance, whatever. And is it right, no? But it is what it is.

I thankfully outgrew that in my later days because in reality I didnt want to be the one taking advantage of someone's mom because i wouldnt want MY MOM to be taken advantage of.

Getting a phone she doesnt need for her use or getting a phone that does not match what she needs.

Nowadays when people ask me for phone recommendations I will always say iPhone first and i will explain to them why Apple is better than Android.

But i have some stubborn friends who want to stay with Android because its what they know so I am able to make suggestions.

For a good Budget Android, I always recommend Samsung Galaxy A Series(A14) can be gotten in America as little as Free on a prepaid carrier and under $100 at Walmart.

I do recommend Pixels over most Android phones because it is the best of what is a Subpar OS in my opinion. As well as OnePlus.

I steer them away from things like Motorla (Motorola makes terrible phones) and Nokia's.

 

[ozaz]

I'm not particularly interested in using iMessage on Android. But as long as Apple continue to engage in practices which hinder cross-platform communication I'm fully behind anyone that causes Apple grief when it comes to iMessage, whether that be a government or a plucky start-up.

 

[Gix1k]

Lmao because we can’t change icons or add some launcher? BuT My CuStOMizAtIoN…..

Android is a mid at best software that does a lot and nothing good.

But lets brag about being apple to download multiple stores or buying phones where most phones released are already running last gen software and unless you spend money on Samsung or pixel, hope your phones are actually updated.

Or depending on which android you by it is fragmented because one phone might have features and software that the others don’t.
I could go on and on.

But hey at least you can change icons and brag about how much better google is than apple.

While you guys are trying to use apple
Services (imessage). The irony.

I mean if you want to try and justify piracy go
For it.

And this is why android and its users get the reputation it has.

Lmao if iMessage is the only reason you buy iPhones that’s quite sad but I guess we all have our reasons. Despite there being multiple apps that already do what iMessage does and is cross platform.

When I am forced to use android I don’t think I ever went “golly gee I wish i had blue texts right now”


Plz stop using kids and trivializing them over a phone preference. Most kids are not bullying kids over a phone.



They use android. They’re used to downloading shady stuff. It’s kind of the appeal of android so I’m sure they aren’t worried about their credentials being used if that means they can stick it to apple.

I dislike this statement about “there’s cross-platform messaging apps”. Sure there are, but just because I want to use it doesn’t mean everyone else in my life wants to.