Beeper Mini is back on the Google Play Store. But now, you won’t be able to sign up for the app with your phone number and must use an Apple iCloud email.
Beeper Mini/Google Play Store
Beeper Mini, the app that lets Android users send blue-bubble texts to iPhone, is back on the Google Play store.The app was rendered unusable over the weekend after Apple made some changes to iMessage.Beeper called Apple’s response “1984-esque” and says its app benefits both Apple and Android users.
Android users who are tired of the drawbacks that come with cross-platform texting can rejoice. Beeper Mini, the app that lets Android users send blue-bubble texts via iMessage, is back on the Google Play Store — with one major caveat.
Apple recently began “blocking techniques” that allow non-Apple users access to iMessage, the iPhone company said in an earlier statement to The Verge. This caused Beeper Mini to stop working over the weekend.
Beeper Mini is now working again, but you won’t be able to sign up for the app using your Android phone number anymore, which was one of the major draws previously. Users will need to sign up for Beeper Mini using an Apple iCloud email address. On the bright side, the app is now free for users.
Update is now live on Play Store. No need to download from our website anymore. https://t.co/igY9ZZAztK
— Beeper (@onbeeper) December 11, 2023
Meanwhile, Beeper said that it’s working to allow users to sign up using their Android phone number again. Beeper Mini was previously $1.99 a month to use but now it’s free, temporarily, as there’s no guarantee Apple doesn’t make another change that could impact the app. The subscription model could return if the app’s original feature set is fully restored and stays online.
According to Apple’s statement to The Verge, it’s blocking non-Apple users from accessing iMessage as a way to protect “security and privacy.” It also said that it would continue to make updates to protect users.
Beeper said that it would be willing to share its entire codebase with Apple if security was a concern in its blog post. It also called Apple’s statement “1984-esque.”
Beeper allows for perks like high-quality images, emojis, read receipts, and type status to be used in cross-platform messaging. It also gave Android users the blue text bubble.
Beeper co-founder Eric Migocvsky previously told Business Insider that allowing non-iPhone users access to iMessage was something that benefitted both iPhone and Android users.
Apple’s move to block Beeper Mini was also criticized by Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Green bubble texts are less secure. So why would Apple block a new app allowing Android users to chat with iPhone users on iMessage? Big Tech executives are protecting profits by squashing competitors.
Chatting between different platforms should be easy and secure. https://t.co/fHAS5ckaEA
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 10, 2023
Apple did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment ahead of publication.
Though the fate of Beeper Mini looks uncertain to say the least, there’s hope on the horizon that texting between Android and iPhone improves over the next year.
While you shouldn’t expect Apple to launch an iMessage app on Android, the company is expected to introduce support for the mobile standard Rich Communication Services, or RCS, to its devices in 2024. This will make cross-platform texting much smoother and will give non-iPhone users features like read receipts and higher-quality photos and videos.