Microsoft Now Rolling Out iMessage Support on Windows With Several Limitations

[xpxp2002]

I don’t use a combo of Windows-based PC and an iPhone, so I struggle to see the point here. From what I can tell, I’d probably just use my iPhone for messages and calls as opposed to barely doing so on my PC.

I used to be an all-in Microsoft person. Had Surface RT and Surface 2 tablets, numerous Windows Phones over the years, and of course Windows PCs (and a couple servers) at home. One of the main reasons I bought a MacBook years ago to replace my Surface tablet was for Continuity, Handoff, and specifically, the messaging integration with iPhone.

Being able to seamlessly switch between devices and continue the same conversation from phone to laptop with a real keyboard is incredibly convenient, as is being able to respond from the same phone number/service regardless of which device I'm using. The last thing I want to do is constantly have to stop what I'm doing, pick up my phone, tap out a message on the tiny flat screen when there's a full keyboard right in front of me, then switch back to my laptop to continue working every time I need to respond to a message. Nor do I want to have to tell somebody mid-conversation, "Hold on. Let me text you now. Gotta switch from Messenger to SMS because I'm about to step away from my computer" every time.

I'm actually using iMessage with someone right now and just flipping between Safari and Messages using Cmd+Tab to read and respond as I need to. It's just so convenient.

Microsoft briefly supported this Continuity-style messaging with their Messenger service and the Messaging app on Windows 8 and Windows Phone. Microsoft had even entertained adding SMS support to it at one point, but backed off when they decided to move in the direction of Windows 10 and the short-lived Windows 10 Mobile.

Since then, it was clear that Microsoft had become rudderless as they tried to figure out what they wanted to do for an ecosystem play since they were abandoning Windows 8. Their entire products and services catalog became a disjointed mess that struggled to work together in ways that seemed very obvious to an onlooker and had significant holes in functionality that Apple and Google had no trouble filling. I came over to the Apple ecosystem largely because the integration that I was seeking from Microsoft actually existed here, and it wasn't a pet project that might go away on a whim, as it did with Microsoft.

Nearly a decade later, Microsoft finally, sort of, catching up to where they were planning to go in 2013 affirms to me that I made the right decision.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

I really wish Apple would finally improve its iCloud web apps (way too limited as they are now), and add Messages to the suite of apps. I've grown so used to texting on my Macs that when I do have to use a Windows PC, it's sorely missed.

Download Unison until phone link is available on your PC. It works great. I am using it right now to talk to my wife.

 

[CapitalIdea]

Completely unrelated, but do people generally use Windows phone link anyway outside of the iOS ecosystem? I’ve never seen anyone use it and it seems completely pointless.

 

[erikkfi]

Just use the accessibility settings on the phone for your higher contrast needs?

And why is that needed for the color representing Apple's messaging standard and not the other? I'm sure that's a coincidence, not a user-hostile dark pattern.

 

[genovelle]

Oh no, Windows users aren't subject to low-contrast, accessibility-unfriendly, punitive color schemes to try to manipulate users into badgering their friends to switch phone brands.

It’s more like Windows users won’t be able to tell at a glance that they have to be careful about sending files or videos to large for the limits of Android because of text limitations.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

Completely unrelated, but do people generally use Windows phone link anyway outside of the iOS ecosystem? I’ve never seen anyone use it and it seems completely pointless.

Yes it's just as useless as using imessage on your macbook, ipad etc.

 

[Jupeman]

Yes it's just as useless as using imessage on your macbook, ipad etc.

Strange comment to me as I'd venture that 90% of my use of Messages is via Mac, 8% iPad, 2% actually on my iPhone. I sit at my Mac all day and typing messages on Messages is so much easier than thumb typing, why ever use your phone to do so when you don't have to. That's how I roll, at least.

 

[muzzy996]

Strange comment to me as I'd venture that 90% of my use of Messages is via Mac, 8% iPad, 2% actually on my iPhone. I sit at my Mac all day and typing messages on Messages is so much easier than thumb typing, why ever use your phone to do so when you don't have to. That's how I roll, at least.

Either you missed the sarcasm or you're doubling down on it?

 

[jakey rolling]

iMessage on Macintosh is far more functional and beautiful and has been like that for years, and the iPhone doesn't even need to be connected to the Mac.

As is Teams, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and a whole plethora of other native chat applications. It's almost like a full featured native application is going to provide a better experience than a limited-access tether shim.

 

[kid1230]

WOW It's about as much restriction as apple themselves.. c:

 

[EmilGH]

Haven't we been here before? Didn't Microsoft do this with AIM/MSN Messenger back in 199x?

I expect this will work about as well this time as it did the last time…

 

[coolfactor]

I absolutely can not live without Messages on my Mac. It's so seamless to be able to send and receive text messages using my full keyboard, rather than constantly grabbing at my phone. Essential for my work.

 

[coolfactor]

Haven't we been here before? Didn't Microsoft do this with AIM/MSN Messenger back in 199x?

I expect this will work about as well this time as it did the last time…

AIM was an pseudo-open protocol. Do you remember iChat? It was built on AIM, too. We went too long without a replacement for iChat, but now we're living the dream.

iChat - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[coolfactor]

Oh no, Windows users aren't subject to low-contrast, accessibility-unfriendly, punitive color schemes to try to manipulate users into badgering their friends to switch phone brands.

It may be fun to use the blue-vs-green as a "strategy for converts", but the original intention (and current purpose) is to know when a message is sent as iMessage or SMS. Would you prefer a little icon instead? A different shape for the bubble? It's important to know, and the colours solve that.

 

[name99]

I don’t use a combo of Windows-based PC and an iPhone, so I struggle to see the point here. From what I can tell, I’d probably just use my iPhone for messages and calls as opposed to barely doing so on my PC.

I think the more interesting point here is that nowhere is this thing labelled "Skype"...
It says something for how much MS has destroyed the (one time, many years ago, very positive) brand image of Skype that they're trying to build this on a completely different foundation.

So, basically, don't worry about Apple killing it. What you SHOULD be worried about is the Skype team within MS killing it...
(Or the same genius MS management that so thoroughly fscked up Skype deciding to bring their UI insights to this product...)

 

[spinedoc77]

Interesting, I remember dabbling with something like this from Dell years ago. It doesn't do much for me anyway, I have FULL iMessage capability on my Android device (and via the same app/program on all my Windows devices as well), group chats, tapbacks, blue bubbles, etc, although the way to get it is not particularly easy and requires extra hardware. Still, it's funny when I show up somewhere with my AW Ultra and blue bubbles, but people see me pull out an Android phone.

 

[erikkfi]

It may be fun to use the blue-vs-green as a "strategy for converts", but the original intention (and current purpose) is to know when a message is sent as iMessage or SMS. Would you prefer a little icon instead? A different shape for the bubble? It's important to know, and the colours solve that.

I disagree that it’s important to know.

 

[xpxp2002]

I disagree that it’s important to know.

Well, most would disagree with that. iMessage is encrypted, SMS is not. It is imperative to know.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Oh no, Windows users aren't subject to low-contrast, accessibility-unfriendly, punitive color schemes to try to manipulate users into badgering their friends to switch phone brands.

Yea high school is tough...😂

 

[MrSkoTA]

“only delivered to a PC while the iPhone is connected via Bluetooth”

🙄 the end. No need to move forward. Just pick up your phone and use it like normal.

 

[dba415]

It may be fun to use the blue-vs-green as a "strategy for converts", but the original intention (and current purpose) is to know when a message is sent as iMessage or SMS. Would you prefer a little icon instead? A different shape for the bubble? It's important to know, and the colours solve that.

If apple made the green darker it would look better and serve the same purpose. The issue is that the green/white color is not great to look at and it works in favor of apple to steer people from not wanting to use sms.

 

[erikkfi]

For anyone sane left in the comments, here's a contrast check comparison between iMessage and SMS:

Apple understands accessibility, so this is an intentional, user-hostile design choice.

 

[erikkfi]

If apple made the green darker it would look better and serve the same purpose. The issue is that the green/white color is not great to look at and it works in favor of apple to steer people from not wanting to use sms.

Exactly. This is about what it would look like if Apple fixed it:

 

[Jumpthesnark]

... the entire selling point of Macs is iMessage capabilities...

Ummm, okay.

 

[Choco Taco]

Ummm, okay.

I'm sorry, did that wording offend your sensibilities? How about, the ability to use iMessage in macOS is one of the selling points of owning a Mac. That less confusing for you?