Nothing Announces iMessage Compatibility via New App

[SpringKid]

Take that Google.

iMessage doesn't need to go anywhere. Will I buy a "Nothing" phone? No. But this shows that we don't need to listen to Google with their constant pathetic embarrassing crying about Apple not adopting RCS.

But it’s not like the app is just compatible with iMessage. You log in with your Apple ID on some other Apple device somewhere, that you don’t own or have control over, that basically acts as a proxy between your phone and genuine Apple device users.

 

[krspkbl]

But it’s not like the app is just compatible with iMessage. You log in with your Apple ID on some other Apple device somewhere, that you don’t own or have control over, that basically acts as a proxy between your phone and genuine Apple device users.

shiiit. ok well that's bad. I take it back.

NOPE.

 

[fwmireault]

I would never provide my Apple ID credentials to an external service. People should stay away from that.

 

[bigjnyc]

This would be a hackers dream come true to data breach this company and get all of those Apple accounts.

 

[5232152]

Take that Google.

iMessage doesn't need to go anywhere. Will I buy a "Nothing" phone? No. But this shows that we don't need to listen to Google with their constant pathetic embarrassing crying about Apple not adopting RCS.

What are you talking about?
The probability that their integration has a coded forwarder in place to make this happening is close to 100%. This solution is gimmicky and if anything, makes it laughable how idiotic Apple are to not lean into open source encryption when it comes to messaging. Protecting Apple for exposing private information to a MITM is insane and undermines exactly how little Apple cares about privacy if it is not for the fat pay check of people feeling any kind of pressure to buy Tim Apples products.

 

[Steve121178]

This unofficial third party iMessage thing is going to end up being a game of cat-and-mouse with Apple akin to jailbreaking. Apple are going to go out of their way to prevent it, devs are going to keep trying to work their way round anything Apple implements.

I don't mean to be a killjoy for those that would benefit from using this, but surely Apple hasn't given permission for a third party to use/abuse/reverse engineer the iMessage protocols etc in order to make a third party iMessage app?

Not quite sure how long it will last even if they manage to get it going. Like you say, it will be a game of cat & mouse until Apple's legal people bring it to a close.

 

[hieranonymous]

I wonder how this is actually implemented. Are they running virtual iOS instances in the cloud?

 

[HailstormX]

Nothing to see here

 

[bobcomer]

Who's gonna provide their AppleID credentials to a third party so they can get iMessage on an Android phone?

You'd be surprised. I use Airmessage on my Mac to do the same thing. (forward messages from my iPhone/iMessage account to my android phone. And I use Phoneleash on my android phone to do the opposite.

 

[5232152]

I wonder how this is actually implemented. Are they running virtual iOS instances in the cloud?

My best guess:
Exposed Apple API that they then use to fake a Mac iMessage instance to let Apple think the user is just using their Mac. That would explain the video and how he talks about including the "being a bit naughty" part.

 

[Damian83]

Who's gonna provide their AppleID credentials to a third party so they can get iMessage on an Android phone?

which are these super sensitive, super secret, super important credentials if u register an appleID just for use it ONLY for imessage? 🤦‍♂️

 

[Digitalguy]

The main issue with this, when you login, you're giving a third-party company your Apple ID credentials. And in addition to that, they can see every message you're sending and receiving through their hosted infrastructure which is acting as a man in the middle (MITM) between you and Apple's iMessage service.

It's a massive privacy issue and I don't think the convenience of having iMessage available is worth this security and privacy trade-off.

it's encrypted, they are seeing no message

 

[bobcomer]

It's a massive privacy issue and I don't think the convenience of having iMessage available is worth this security and privacy trade-off.

We all have our own needs and desires. I don't consider this any more of a privacy issue than having an iCloud account (or google, or, ...) in the first place.

 

[lpolarityl]

This is worth a look if you're curious about a few things:

Nothing Chats

Here at Nothing, we’re building a world where tech is fun again. Remember a time where every new product made you excited? We’re bringing that back.

us.nothing.tech

The stuff that matters

1. How does it work?​

   If you’re a Phone (2) user in one of the select countries where Nothing Chats is available, you can download the messaging app from the Google Play Store. Log in with your existing Apple ID username or create a new account to start sending and receiving blue bubbles.

2. Are my messages secure?​

   Yes, Nothing Chats is built on Sunbird’s platform and all Chats messages are end-to-end encrypted, meaning neither we nor Sunbird can access the messages you’re sending and receiving.

3. Who is Sunbird?​

   Sunbird is a US technology company that specialises in Android and web messaging. Visit Sunbird’s website to learn more.

4. Are any of my messages or Apple ID credentials stored?​

   No, Nothing is powered by Sunbird, and Sunbird’s architecture provides a system to deliver a message from one user to another without ever storing it at any point in its journey. Messages are not stored on Sunbird’s servers and are only live on your device – once a message is delivered, it can only be recovered locally from your personal device.

5. What are Sunbird’s data retention practices?​

   Sunbird holds the customer’s Sunbird account email only for as long as they are active. If not active, this is deleted / purged after two weeks.

6. Does Sunbird have a privacy policy?​

   Yes, this can be found here.

Despite all that, I doubt Apple will let Sunbird and Beeper continue as their popularity grows. I also doubt these middle-man apps will have any impact at all on Apple's sales. I imagine Apple as a fat happy bear swiping away nats, nats being Beeper and Sunbird in this scenario.

 

[bobcomer]

Seems like a security issue, my apple ID holds everything, not letting a third party use it for anything.

You let Apple use it.

 

[jarman92]

What are you talking about?
The probability that their integration has a coded forwarder in place to make this happening is close to 100%. This solution is gimmicky and if anything, makes it laughable how idiotic Apple are to not lean into open source encryption when it comes to messaging. Protecting Apple for exposing private information to a MITM is insane and undermines exactly how little Apple cares about privacy if it is not for the fat pay check of people feeling any kind of pressure to buy Tim Apples products.

What are you talking about? This app requires users to willingly give over their Apple IDs and passwords, and you’re somehow blaming Apple for poor security?

 

[spinedoc77]

This unofficial third party iMessage thing is going to end up being a game of cat-and-mouse with Apple akin to jailbreaking. Apple are going to go out of their way to prevent it, devs are going to keep trying to work their way round anything Apple implements.

These services have been around for years, you can even use some services to host your own services and not have any worries about privacy issues, although those require always-on hardware. I just use my Mac Mini with the BlueBubbles app and host my own server. The only caveat is you use your Apple email and not your phone number (although there are ways to use your phone number).

FYI Beeper works MUCH better than Sunbird IMO, but you still have the privacy issues. Honestly you are much better off just hosting your own server and using BlueBubbles.

Although with a company like Nothing now officially touting it it's possible that Apple will feel threatened enough to take action. Maybe it will push them enough to actually consider a solution for non-iPhone owners, or maybe they will just shut it down. Will be interesting to see.

 

[spinedoc77]

Apple should implement a feature to detect people doing this and make their chat bubble red

This would be great to differentiate the middle school mentality of those who actually care what color bubble they are.

 

[SpringKid]

”Sunbird takes that concept and moves it to the cloud, where it’s using its own cluster of Macs to sign in users and relay their messages. The app’s authentication process is identical to the one that appears when you’re setting up a new Apple device—right down to the two-factor authentication prompt. And after signing in, a Mac Mini becomes associated with your account on Apple’s Devices website.

Danny Mizrahi, founder and CEO of Sunbird Messaging, is a bit cagey about how this works, but implies that the company is not simply assigning one Mac desktop to each user.

“It’s a scalable solution where we’ve got the cost down in the cloud to 60 cents per user, which is how we knew we had a business,” Mizrahi says, adding that Sunbird is continuing to bring the cost down as it scales up.”

https://www.fastcompany.com/90867882/sunbird-brings-imessage-to-android

 

[rgeneral]

What was the message you sent? Nothing.

 

[Edgecrusherr]

I think it's really funny that they're doing this, Apple needs to support RCS. HOWEVER, those Mac minis they're signing you into is a big, glowing target for hackers. I wouldn't trust my account or my kid's on this system.

 

[Samplasion]

Less so the Nothing Phone version, does this mean that "Sunbird" app exists and can do iMessage functionality with Androids?

Can't speak for Sunbird specifically but Matrix with an extension, and Beeper (which is based on the former), are available and do work.

 

[bobcomer]

”Sunbird takes that concept and moves it to the cloud, where it’s using its own cluster of Macs to sign in users and relay their messages. The app’s authentication process is identical to the one that appears when you’re setting up a new Apple device—right down to the two-factor authentication prompt. And after signing in, a Mac Mini becomes associated with your account on Apple’s Devices website.

Danny Mizrahi, founder and CEO of Sunbird Messaging, is a bit cagey about how this works, but implies that the company is not simply assigning one Mac desktop to each user.

“It’s a scalable solution where we’ve got the cost down in the cloud to 60 cents per user, which is how we knew we had a business,” Mizrahi says, adding that Sunbird is continuing to bring the cost down as it scales up.”

https://www.fastcompany.com/90867882/sunbird-brings-imessage-to-android

So just like AirMessage, only you don't need your own Mac to do it. Interesting, I'm not sure I see the business case for this, but like I said, we all have our own needs and desires so I certainly wouldn't fault someone for using it! (or designing it)

Maybe a shared, OS independent, messaging app is the way to go and get rid of all this proprietary messaging crud. Nah, that wont work unless businesses wont support using it for multifactor authentication and support.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Just release iMessage app on Android already. Get the regulators off your back and allow Apple users to iMessage everyone globally no matter what phone they use!!

I had to install WhatsApp because Apple wouldn’t do this.

 

[5232152]

What are you talking about? This app requires users to willingly give over their Apple IDs and passwords, and you’re somehow blaming Apple for poor security?

What does that have to do with anything? Defending Apple for monopolising message security is the problem. And this forum shows how many are either blind or shareholders and willing to give up the greater good for everyone to flash their blue bubble. Apple has bad security for that reason. I don't care about Apple ID at all. Reread my post.