A new Android app called Beeper Mini promises to let Android users send real iMessages that show up as blue bubbles on iPhones. The app is launching after developers apparently cracked Apple’s closed iMessage system through reverse engineering.
Beeper first launched in 2021, promising to unify all your chat apps into one convenient messaging hub. However, the ability to access iMessage on Android and Windows became a major draw for many users.
This original implementation involved signing in with your Apple ID then relaying messages through remote Macs in data centers to bridge non-Apple devices into iMessage.
How Beeper Mini Gets Real iMessage Working on Android
Beeper Mini connects to Apple’s servers directly rather than relaying messages, allowing Android users to register their phone numbers and seamlessly integrate into iPhone users’ iMessage threads. According to Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky, this required jailbreaking iPhones to analyze how iMessage works on a technical level, then “writing new code from scratch” to emulate an iPhone within the Android app.
The biggest challenge was replicating Apple’s device verification system, which aims to restrict iMessage to genuine Apple products.
But now Android users can send real blue bubble iMessages that tap into the same servers as iPhone users, with seemingly no way for recipients to distinguish them from native iPhone messages.
Promising True End-to-End Encryption and Security
Unlike some previous iMessage hacks—including Beeper’s previous iMessage implementation—that relayed messages through remote Macs, Beeper claims its new method is truly secure and private.
The company says it avoids seeing user messages, contacts, or passwords, connecting Android phones directly into Apple’s pipeline exactly like an iPhone would.
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In an effort to validate these security promises before launch, Beeper Mini’s codebase will be open source for public review. Its CTO has also attempted to attack the system’s security to identify any weaknesses before bad actors can exploit them.
Still Risks Angering Apple and Getting Blocked
Migicovsky believes Beeper Mini isn’t violating copyright and that Apple cannot easily cut off the app without impacting countless legitimate iPhone users. As a part of the DMCA (specifically section 1201F), reverse engineering for the purpose of interoperability is protected.
However, Apple is known for heavily protecting iMessage’s exclusivity to its ecosystem and has cracked down on similar apps attempting to bridge the gap.
So far, Beeper has avoided Apple’s attention despite offering unofficial iMessage access for nearly three years now. But as an increasingly popular mainstream app allowing Android penetration of Apple’s walled garden, backlash seems imminent.
Initially Launching for $2 Per Month
At launch, Beeper Mini will cost $2 monthly, providing Android users with standalone access to iMessage and its blue bubbles. You’ll be able to register a phone number to replace SMS/RCS threads from iPhone contacts with blue-bubble iMessage conversations seamlessly.
Over time, Beeper intends to eliminate the “Mini” branding and integrate a wider array of chat platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, Signal, and SMS/RCS.
The goal is a unified messaging app for talking to anyone while retaining iMessage’s special iOS integrations. But more services could raise the subscription cost down the line after the initial $2 monthly promo rate.
Fills a Need Despite RCS Updates Coming
Even with RCS adoption making standard texts more iPhone-feature-competitive, Beeper sees missed functionalities that its iMessage hack enables for Android users.
This includes special integrations into iPhone group conversations, along with retaining the distinguished social clout of actual blue bubbles rather than standard green SMS lookalikes.
So while upcoming RCS upgrades will deliver critical messaging improvements across Android and iOS, limitations still motivate Beeper’s unsanctioned iMessage expansion, targeting Android consumers unsatisfied with the remaining disparities.
The app fills a demand despite Apple working to diminish it by adopting messaging standards outside its walls.
My Early Beeper Mini Experience
In my initial usage, I’ve struggled to get Beeper Mini functioning properly. It seems the app may have regional restrictions, as I couldn’t register my Kenyan phone number as advertised.
I was able to sign up using my Apple ID instead. However, the app then failed to convert any of my existing conversations to blue bubble iMessages. When trying to start new iMessage chats with iPhone contacts through Beeper, I kept getting errors that the user couldn’t be reached over iMessage.
So unfortunately, while Beeper Mini works smoothly for users in other countries, I haven’t managed to get the true iMessage experience working for myself yet. This implies some geographic limitations may be preventing proper functionality in Kenya specifically.
I’ll provide any updates if I eventually get Beeper Mini operational for sending real blue bubble messages from my Android device. But for now, the piracy of iMessage remains restricted due to apparent region-locking measures.
I should also note that SMS/RCS support is also unavailable, so Beeper divides conversations rather than unifying everything within one app. But the company suggests addressing these shortcomings in future updates.
Beeper’s Eventual Vision for Unified Messaging
While launching exclusively for pirating iMessage at $2 monthly, Beeper Mini represents the first phase in a broader mission of uniting all major chat apps into one interface. The long-term vision is to develop an all-encompassing communication platform that allows users to reach anyone, regardless of device or preferred network.
Early indications suggest the technical prowess and replicative abilities needed to gradually incorporate additional messaging networks are within Beeper’s capabilities.
So while beginning as an Android Trojan horse infiltrating iOS exclusivity, Beeper seems determined to eventually move beyond platform wars and walled gardens, aiming instead to facilitate boundless human connection.
