Messages App w/ Every Type of Message

[curdy]

Forgive me if this has been discussed previously.

A messages app with all types of messages in it. For example, text (SMS), iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc etc

I know many people who say that it would be too messy. But I find at the moment I’m trying to find my messages way too much and going to numerous different apps. I know they do come in through Notification Centre, but I would love one place where I could see all my messages from all my apps.

What do you think?

Edit: I mean a true Apple iOS app where one can reply to and see all messages from these apps.

 

[fatTribble]

I could see the benefits for people who use all of of those other apps.

I wonder, though, if it’s even possible given the encryption used by most apps today.
Maybe someone more familiar with encryption can comment, but I believe the encryption has components on the client and the server side. So I would think there would at least have to be cooperation between Apple and the other app makers.

 

[MegaBlue]

Sounds like you're describing the Blackberry Hub, which was an app on BB OS 10 and currently on Android, though not as integrated with as many third parties as you're listing.

It was basically a section on the BB10 OS homescreen (not sure how it works on Android) that complies emails, texts, IMs (originally BBM, but I believe it supports Facebook Messenger and a few others now on Android), calendar notifications, etc.

Basically, it was a Notification Center just for social related stuff. It was actually a really great idea. On BB10 OS you could reply directly from the Hub as well instead of needing to launch a separate app (though you obviously did not get full feature access).

However, with the EU's DMA act requiring "basic interoperability" between messaging services, its quite likely that iMessage will just be able to send messages with attachments and make basic FaceTime Audio and Video calls to other services like WhatsApp, so a "universal" chat app may not even be needed.

If you're comfortable with their business model, also look into Beeper. They have an app that allows you to combine all your messaging services into one spot, including iMessage. They claim top levels of security and you can even self host if you want to manage all the data exchanges (and not pay a subscription), but I personally am not comfortable filtering my encrypted messages through a third party service.

 

[boston04and07]

I like this idea. The Mail app can display messages from many different kinds of accounts, and the Calendar can show calendars from different providers. Even the Phone app allows integration of call history with other apps. Why not Messages? I personally don‘t use anything other than iMessages and SMS, but maybe I would if all my messages were in the same place.

Thing is, Apple has always been very protective of iMessages, not allowing it on other platforms and such. I wonder if they want to keep it exclusive and not mix them with other message apps.

 

[curdy]

Forgot about this thread but appreciate your replies.

I was picturing an app where all messages would come to and hopefully be able to reply from there as well, but still somehow using the associated messaging service (WhatsApp, Messenger, etc). Kind of like a hub for all messages like you described with Blackberry.

I will take a look at Beeper as well.