12/20/2023

Beeper’s iMessage Fight with Apple Has Exploded

The issue has created a debate over big tech regulation

When Beeper launched a version of its long-in-the-works "iMessage for Android" app a couple of weeks ago, flaunting its ability to turn green Android texts into Apple's proprietary blue bubble messages, the upstart knew that this would likely get Apple's attention.

It just didn't anticipate getting this much attention.

Since Beeper launched its Mini app in the Google Play Store on Dec. 5, the app has suffered mysterious outages, was mentioned in a Tweet by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and is now the subject of a letter sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) calling for a deeper investigation into what has happened to Beeper. It's a dramatic turn for an app that was supposed to be a simple bridge between green-bubble and blue-bubble texts—and has firmly positioned the app as a David to Apple's Goliath.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WIRED.