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Then the second option...let me remove and replace the messages app. As it stands now, there is no 3rd-party apps for the iPhone that can receive SMS on the carrier phone number.

I don't use iMessage as we're a mixed Apple/Android household.
Just turn off iMessage in the Message app, it will work just like any sms/mms messaging app on any phone before smart phones were a thing. Many android phones only have one SMS messaging app.
 
Then the second option...let me remove and replace the messages app. As it stands now, there is no 3rd-party apps for the iPhone that can receive SMS on the carrier phone number.

I don't use iMessage as we're a mixed Apple/Android household.
That seems like a reasonable option seeing how you can change your default email/web browser. Not that I would switch to anything else for my messages
 
It is unclear how many Android users have a Mac or have a friend with a Mac to rely on
Given that iPhone vastly outsells the Mac, the number of people with a Mac but without an iPhone is surely near zero.
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jail tim cook until they stop their anticompetitive measures.

How is it anti-competitive?
  • Apple is not blocking messages. SMS still works.
  • The iMessage service is not a public service. Apple built it and owns it.
  • Apple has not given Bleeper Mini authorized access to the service. They "broke in".

iMessage is an internet-based messaging channel, owned by Apple. There are MANY of these available — for free — to consumers. Plenty of choice in the marketplace.

So, try again?
 
I care. Tell me this "real story". I have two iPhones (personal and work), and an android phone.

I like iOS, I like macOS, I don't like Apple's decisions with iMessage.

..and I routinely send Apple feedback about it. Doubt they read it, but I keep sending it.
Oh yeah they seem to be listening don’t they.


You don’t have to like every aspect of the products but you also can’t expect to change them for a small percentage of customers needs.
 
Apple likely has zero interest in helping make Android phone experience better. Why would they? So people would be more willing to switch to Android? Not good business

Apple has agreed to support RCS starting in 2024. That will bring many of the same iMessage-like features to Android. Rich messages, larger attachments and media. Requires a data connection, same as iMessage. SMS remains the fallback in the event of no data connection.

Not sure why Beeper Mini is so desperate. In a few months, their app will be completely irrelevant.
 
I care. Tell me this "real story". I have two iPhones (personal and work), and an android phone.

I like iOS, I like macOS, I don't like Apple's decisions with iMessage.

..and I routinely send Apple feedback about it. Doubt they read it, but I keep sending it.

What is your dilemma? That people text you and you're not receiving "rich" messages from Android users on your iPhone? You admit to having an Android phone. Where does it fit into your day-to-day life? Do you carry it with you everywhere? If you are receiving SMS messages from Android users, and you want to receive "rich" messages from them, just give them your Android number. Problem solved.
 
No one. Beeper isn't charging.

I use imessage just for SMS, that's it. I don't even use imessage other than receiving SMS. Just use whatsapp/signal for texting need. It's just way more advance and feature rich.
 
Sounds like the Apple Store will have a lot of new customers buying and returning within 15 days in the next few weeks.

Dusty iMacs from 2010 will probably go for $100 now.
Nah this‘ll be the slow decline of their app. Most people already annoyed by the fact that this service is very unreliable and they need to set up stuff every two days.

My bet is they will slowly back out and shut it down in the near future. Reap what you sow, they had a thing there with their Beeper Cloud service (which Apple ignored) but they poked the bee hive and have to now face the full wrath of Apple, losing even that silver lining.

This never really made sense to begin with RCS on the horizon… looked immediately like a cheap cash grab bait monetizing an essentially open sourced reverse engineering knowledge.
 
I use imessage just for SMS, that's it. I don't even use imessage other than receiving SMS. Just use whatsapp/signal for texting need. It's just way more advance and feature rich.
iMessage isn’t SMS
The Messages app is not iMessage.
You can disable iMessage and never use it. The Messages app existed before iMessage existed. It will just use SMS/MMS and soon RCS. Plenty of people never use iMessage on their devices. They can even use the same Messages app on iPad and Mac without iMessage to receive SMS/MMS (and soon RCS).

iMessage is an over-the-top, web-based messaging service that is entirely optional to use.
 
It is just dumb when you have so many other messaging platforms

Which are of zero use when communicating with iOS users who refuse to leave the Apple Messages app. Much of this isn't really about Android users loving iMessage specifically, its about Android users wanting to be able to use modern, rich communication features when communicating with iPhone users who won't use other chat apps.

Not sure why Beeper Mini is so desperate. In a few months, their app will be completely irrelevant.

iMessage integration is only one part of their service. In addition to Beeper Mini (which focuses on iMessage) they have another app (Beeper Cloud) which is a multi-network chat app. Even if the iMessage integration goes away, they've generated a lot of brand awareness recently which will probably be of benefit to them.
 
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