Beeper Mini messaging app has already added iMessage compatibility, allowing Android users to send blue bubble texts to iPhone users. Now, the startup says it will add FaceTime, RCS, and WhatsApp support in the "near future".
What Happened: Beeper Mini could become a messaging all-rounder, with the startup planning to add iMessage, SMS, RCS, WhatsApp, and Signal support in the "near future".
If successful, this app could be our first glimpse into the European Union's vision for interoperability between messaging apps.
This unofficial solution to bridge the gap between Android and iPhone users was officially announced this week, allowing Android users to send blue bubble messages to iPhone users.
See Also: Thanks To EU, After USB-C iPhones Will Support RCS In 2024: Here’s What It Means For ‘Green Bubbles’
Beeper published an ambitious product development roadmap, giving an insight into its plans to integrate various messaging services into a single app.
Old timers might feel déjà vu and that is because instant messaging services like AIM, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger, and Google Talk use a common messaging protocol known as XMPP.
The European Union is trying to bring back that era with the Digital Markets Act, forcing popular messaging services like Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, and others to be interoperable.
Essentially, the EU wants users to be able to use all these services within a single app.
As far as messaging apps are concerned, Meta Platforms Inc. META is the clear leader and it is one of the six gatekeepers identified in the DMA. Others include Microsoft Corp. MSFT, ByteDance, Amazon.com Inc. AMZN, Apple, and Alphabet.
Why It Matters: This breakthrough development also comes on the heels of Apple Inc. AAPL announcing that RCS support is coming to iPhones.
The company finally gave in to the pressure created by Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google, with the EU's DMA legislation giving it the push it needed.
Despite this, the blue versus green bubble debate might not end. Even if Android users begin using Beeper Mini to work around this problem, there is a threat of Apple shutting it down. Beeper could play the cat-and-mouse game with Apple, but the average user might not want the complexity involved in this.
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Photo courtesy: Beeper Mini
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