The Technology section is published with the support of Favbet Tech
We haven’t yet forgotten Beeper – the same multi-messenger that iMessage launched on Android, which really upset Apple? So, it was acquired by Automattic, which owns WordPress, Tumblr, Simplenote and other services.
This deal is part of Automattic's strategy to make online messaging a key part of its business. The amount of the deal has not been officially announced, but Bloomberg, citing an informed source, writes that Automattic will pay $125 million for Beeper. Under the terms of the deal, Automattic will completely absorb the developer of Beeper — a team of 27 employees will join the new owner. Among them is Eric Migikovsky, co-founder of Beeper and Pebble. He will head Automattic's messenger business. In the official blog, Eric Migikovsky said that the application “will remain independent within the Other Bets division.” And although the deal was concluded after a public spat with Apple, Automattic has long been an investor in Beeper.
Beeper customers will soon receive several major updates across multiple platforms. Image: Beeper
As for Beeper, it is an application that combines various messaging services into one interface. So, a universal messenger to manage all other messengers. The first beta version of Beeper was released in 2021. The service runs on the Matrix distributed database protocol. In April, it left beta, in which 115 thousand users participated (another 466 thousand were in the queue.
There is no more waitlist, Beeper is completely free and available to everyone on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux and ChromeOS. It currently supports 14 instant messengers and social networks, including Telegram, Signal, Instagram, WhatsApp, Slack and Discord. A premium subscription with additional features should be available later.
iMessage on Android in the context of the confrontation between Google and Apple over RCS
It remains to mention a few more important points. First, before Beeper, in October 2023, Automattic acquired another messenger aggregator, Texts. It also runs on the Matrix protocol. In the future, the Texts and Beeper teams will unite under the Beeper brand and for now everything remains unchanged for users of both services.
Secondly, the fight with Apple over Beeper Mini, which allowed Android users to send iMessages to iPhone users. We recall that at the end of March, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple due to “monopoly in the smartphone market,” mentioning the Beeper incident, among others. So it's likely that Apple will eventually reach out and official iMessage support will come to Android.
QA Manual Course (PZ manual testing) from Powercode academy. Learn how to find solutions and control the content of websites and add-ons. Sign up for a course
Apple is in no hurry to port iMessage to Android, but later this year (autumn) it will introduce the RCS exchange protocol
In 2008, the GSMA developed a new standard exchange protocol data, which should eventually replace SMS/MMS. RCS allows subscribers to communicate through a universal messaging service with the same functions as in instant messengers, which has been actively promoted by Google over the past 5 years. This will make exchanging messages and files between iPhone and Android as easy as possible.
The Technology section is published with the support of Favbet Tech
Favbet Tech is IT a company with 100% Ukrainian DNA, which creates perfect services for iGaming and Betting using advanced technologies and provides access to them. Favbet Tech develops innovative software through a complex multi-component platform that can withstand enormous loads and create a unique experience for players. The IT company is part of the FAVBET group of companies.