Beeper's iMessage Connection Software Open Sourced. What Happens Next? (cnet.com) 85
"The iMessage connection software that powers Beeper Mini and Beeper Cloud is now 100% open source," Beeper announced late this week. " Anyone who wants can use it or continue development."
But while Beeper says it's done trying to bring iMessage to Android, CNET reports that the whole battle was "deeply tied" to Apple's ongoing strategy to control the mobile market: The tide seems to be changing, however: Apple said last month it would be opening up its Messages app (likely due to European regulation) to work with the newer, more feature-rich texting protocol called RCS. This hopefully will lead to a more modern and secure messaging experience when texting between an iPhone and an Android phone, and lead away from the aging SMS and MMS standards. Unfortunately, green bubbles will continue to persist even if there might be little to no functional difference. While third-party apps like Nothing Chats attempted and ultimately failed to bring iMessage to Android, Apple will likely never release the app on Google's mobile operating system.
Until RCS is fully adopted, companies are creating services to allow access to iMessage via Android phones. Apple, for its part, has been quick to block apps like Beeper Mini, citing security concerns. This, however, is raising eyebrows from lawmakers regarding competition in the messaging space and Apple's tight control over the market...
Beeper in a December 21 blog post told users to grab a jailbroken iPhone and install a free Beeper tool that'll generate iMessage registration codes to keep the service operational. It's such a roundabout and potentially expensive way of trying to get iMessage on Android that it likely won't be worth it for most people. For those not willing to go out and jailbreak an iPhone, Beeper said in a now-deleted blog post that it would allow people to rent a jailbroken unit for a small monthly fee starting next year.
But while Beeper says it's done trying to bring iMessage to Android, CNET reports that the whole battle was "deeply tied" to Apple's ongoing strategy to control the mobile market: The tide seems to be changing, however: Apple said last month it would be opening up its Messages app (likely due to European regulation) to work with the newer, more feature-rich texting protocol called RCS. This hopefully will lead to a more modern and secure messaging experience when texting between an iPhone and an Android phone, and lead away from the aging SMS and MMS standards. Unfortunately, green bubbles will continue to persist even if there might be little to no functional difference. While third-party apps like Nothing Chats attempted and ultimately failed to bring iMessage to Android, Apple will likely never release the app on Google's mobile operating system.
Until RCS is fully adopted, companies are creating services to allow access to iMessage via Android phones. Apple, for its part, has been quick to block apps like Beeper Mini, citing security concerns. This, however, is raising eyebrows from lawmakers regarding competition in the messaging space and Apple's tight control over the market...
Beeper in a December 21 blog post told users to grab a jailbroken iPhone and install a free Beeper tool that'll generate iMessage registration codes to keep the service operational. It's such a roundabout and potentially expensive way of trying to get iMessage on Android that it likely won't be worth it for most people. For those not willing to go out and jailbreak an iPhone, Beeper said in a now-deleted blog post that it would allow people to rent a jailbroken unit for a small monthly fee starting next year.
well (Score:2)
that escalated quickly ...
weird battle for so many to fight (Score:5, Informative)
Just to be clear, Apple has never blocked SMS/MMS from working between iPhones and any other brand. This battle is over the color of a bubble or the flair on a message, something Apple pioneered and google has replicated.
This could/would be a long and drawn out battle to force Apple to carry messages on their own services for others. This isn't how SMS/MMS work, the cell network handles that. With iMessage these messages go through Apple's services and are delivered over IP not cellular. Apple has a really strong case that they cannot be compelled to foot the bill for other company's messages and that should be well understoon and agreed to.
RCS is pretty new as far as implementation goes, 2015 in the US and only on the newest android phones. Really didn't become common place until about 2018 when most of the pre android 5 phones were gone.
Apple has already announced that they are enabling RCS messaging in 2024.
Those two things combined make it a bit insane to expect Apple to move other vendor's messages around on their dime when they'll have RCS within a year anyway and Android users will be able to see hearts and thumbs up flair form iPhone users.
The same logic that people use to be so outspoken that Apple shouldn't be able to differentiate their products could be used to block all new communications features on all new devices because that would differentiate those products and could leave those that didn't innovate behind. It's crazy thinking.
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And really, no one really cares about this.
Latin America and a big chunk of Europe use Whatsapp
Asia uses Line
Russia and Eastern Europe use Telegram
China uses WeChat
Pretty much no one outside the US cares about the color of a message bubble.
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> Pretty much no one outside the US cares about the color of a message bubble.
The only people in the US who care are the midwits who like to think that people who wear green are poor and *so* beneath them.
You want to always avoid these kind of people.
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:3)
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That's a pretty saturated market to get into.
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The only people in the US who care are the midwits who like to think that people who wear green are poor and *so* beneath them.
Maybe some of that, but I think more of the reverse. iPhone/iMessage people aren't throwing tantrums that Android people wont share. It's Android people (and very small number of really loud people) throwing tantrums and trying to get laws changed so that Apple (the 'cool kids') will let them in to the cool colored bubble club.
And they ancient lawmakers that can only hear the loudest trantrum throwers. Maybe if we got some younger leadership that could hear words spoken at casual volumes we might not hav
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iPhone users complain, even if they're "joking", about my Android-using presence in group chats because it reduces the quality of all media sent to the group. And even if you don't agree with it, many other iPhone users look down on Android users when it comes to things like dating. Unfortunately it's a big, stupid deal on both sides. I personally don't care what anyone else thinks of the brand of phone I use and I find the whole situation silly with pe
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people look down on others that drive Kias, and what brands of clothes they wear, and and and.
Let me suggest that if someone doesn't want to date you because they don't like your phone, you've dodged a bullet. And if you want to get laid by the type of person that only bangs iphone users, go buy an iphone se for your burner. That's the price of playing the game.
Telegram, whatsapp, Signal, and virtually all the other messaging apps handle full resolution images like imessage. Note that RCS isn't universal
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I never meant to imply that this only applies to iPhone users. I was just refuting your claim that it's mostly Android users complaining about iMessage incompatibilities.
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I was just refuting your claim that it's mostly Android users complaining about iMessage incompatibilities
It's ONLY Android users that are complaining. That's strictly true because there are effectively no other phone platforms in mass use now.
True, but it IS Apple's fault that they don't port iMessage for Android. Doing so would improve the UX of iPhone users by providing the features that go missing when communicating in group chats with Android users.
I'd say this is essentially false. It's not Apple's 'fault' that they invented a thing to enhance their products and continue to support it and not allow 3rd parties aka unknown parties access. I would also argue that it would NOT improve the user experience of iPhone users in having the protocol opened up to 3rd parties. I can tell you how I get spam txts and how I do
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:1)
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"anti iMessage". grow up a little, would ya?
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I don't think the vast majority in the US or anywhere does. It's just the extremely loud minority that are looking for a way to be the victums.
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Apple said it will be implementing RCS in plaintext - for privacy their users will need to stick to iMessage.
Or just install Signal - I wouldn't use iMessage, personally.
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:1)
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More specifically, Apple said it would be implementing the RCS standard. Right now, the only encrypted RCS available on Android relies on Google extensions and only works with Google's own messaging.
But yeah, Signal works fine. The biggest problem with Signal is just getting people to start using it...
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:2)
RCS isnâ(TM)t a standard. Itâ(TM)s a closed source provider specific ecosystem. Think of it more as a messaging server anyone with enough money can buy, like Blackberry used to be.
There is no open source RCS server nor a specification nor any interoperability requirements. It uses some ancient tech and mandates you use it simply because someone on the board of the organization holds patents on it (remember RealPlayer or Ping, that era of video/audio/picture encoding)
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If that's true then the EU may still take an interest in iMessage. Making RCS significantly worse than native iMessage, for no reason other than to make iPhones more attractive, isn't going to fly.
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:2)
Whereâ(TM)s the standard that Apple should implement? And donâ(TM)t tell me that Googleâ(TM)s extensions are a standard.
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What you call Google's standard is actually the open Signal protocol.
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:1)
Thatâ(TM)s not a standard
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It's already in use by several services, including WhatsApp that has hundreds of millions of users. Seems like a well proven, de-facto standard to me.
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:2)
Apple could implement their own version based on the Signal protocol thatâ(TM)s incompatible with Googleâ(TM)s extensions. Then there would be hundreds of millions of more users making it, per your logic, another defacto standard. Thatâ(TM)s part of why itâ(TM)s not a standard. Thereâ(TM)s much more to standardisation than making a working implementation.
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If it used the Signal protocol it wouldn't be incompatible.
But sure, if they want to make their own open standard, as long as Google could implement it then I don't see a problem.
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:2)
Can WhatsApp and Googleâ(TM)s version of RCS interoperate as they both implement the Signal protocol? Why would you expect an Apple implementation of Signal based encryption in RCS be able to interoperate with Googleâ(TM)s RCS? Thereâ(TM)s nothing in the GSMA standards that says how they should work and no commercial reason for Apple to adopt Googleâ(TM)s implementation.
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WhatsApp doesn't use RCS.
Apple is adding RCS support to iMessage, because the EU threatened to put iMessage on its list of key gatekeeping apps that stifle competition and innovation. It would be wise for Apple to support encryption, if they want to avoid being regulated.
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:2)
I know WhatsApp doesnâ(TM)t use RCS. You claimed it uses the Signal protocol, as if thatâ(TM)s all relevant. I pointed out that doesnâ(TM)t guarantee interoperability.
Apple wouldnâ(TM)t be wise to add encryption support when they add RCS support because there is no standard. The EU canâ(TM)t regulate that and if they tried, will likely end up in court and lose. The GSMA needs to go through a standardisation process and publish an approved standard if you want encryption support
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The EU tends not to get involved at the level you are assuming. They will just say that Apple needs to interoperate, and it's up to them how they do it. If they want to push something through the appropriate standards body they can, but just saying "there is nothing we like and we are not willing to make any effort" isn't going to fly.
This stuff is well tested in the EU. Weaseling out on technicalities doesn't work.
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Interoperability is nice, though. I have a couple people who I actually enjoy talking to, that refuse to install Signal. Most who refuse, I just don't really talk to a whole lot.
Obviously, lack of encryption in the standard would be an issue for them, but is there anything stopping others like Signal from spinning up RCS infrastructure? Signal protocol between Signal users, with a fallback to encrypted RCS once it's standardized. My understanding is that they primarily stopped supporting SMS because it
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Apple said it will be implementing RCS in plaintext - for privacy their users will need to stick to iMessage.
Or just install Signal - I wouldn't use iMessage, personally.
Right, just use one of the MANY messaging apps. RCS isn't typically encrypted either and when it is, it's via google's kit which means it's encrypted but not private. iMessage is more or less the 'most' 'private' 'txt message' app, quotes intended there, consider those airquotes if you like.... If you care about privacy, something being a just little bit more private doesn't really cut it.
Regardless of platform, if you want the best privacy you can get you need to separate your messages from your cell
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Just to be clear, Apple has never blocked SMS/MMS from working between iPhones and any other brand. This battle is over the color of a bubble or the flair on a message, something Apple pioneered and google has replicated.
That sounds about right.
Apple has already announced that they are enabling RCS messaging in 2024.
That would have likely been the end of this service regardless. Had Apple done nothing then I expect people would have lost interest in Beeper fairly quickly. I guess they had some point to prove. But then Apple also had a point to prove.
This could/would be a long and drawn out battle to force Apple to carry messages on their own services for others. This isn't how SMS/MMS work, the cell network handles that. With iMessage these messages go through Apple's services and are delivered over IP not cellular. Apple has a really strong case that they cannot be compelled to foot the bill for other company's messages and that should be well understoon and agreed to.
In the aftermath of a big wind storm a few years ago the cellular network was constantly flooded from downed cell towers, damaged phone lines, and widespread power outages. In this time getting a phone call through was nearly impossible, MMS mess
Re: weird battle for so many to fight (Score:2)
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I thought this was more about bringing iMessage to other platforms? Like being able to add iMessage to other chat apps and on Windows.
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I'm sure people want that, but there seems to be the idea that Apple should have to comply which I see as a rediculous effort. Why should Apple have to make a piece of software for Windows, or allow for interoperability with 3rd parties and open it's encryption up for?
Sure it would be nice to have access to iMessage on Windows, but I don't have any desire to see some judge or government force that to happen.
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Weird, that last post is missing the "Shrug" emoticon.
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Weird, that last post is missing the "Shrug" emoticon.
well, I did post this on my mac, so if you posted on a windows machine I could see how that shrug might not have made it through.... `\_("/)_/`
What happen's Next? (Score:5, Funny)
Well hopefully what happens next is we can stop fucking hearing about this.
What is this brouhaha about? (Score:2)
Is there an infographic somewhere, from the sketchy TFS I've seen in the past few months I can't quite assemble a clear picture of why this ibeeper/whatever shit "matters" to anyone.
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Don't ever use incomprehensible jargon in your infographic, it makes it useless even for trolling.
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In the Apple walled garden there is a messaging system called iMessage. Anything outside of Apple can't use this system so for example if you have a combination of devices, Apple and Android for example, then everything gets screwed up. Sending and receiving messages doesn't work correctly, you miss important messages because of someone else's device thinking your on iMessage or whatever. Mostly Apple makes everything as difficult as possible if you OR ANYONE ELSE uses iMessage.
Beeper adds a compatibility l
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I see. Well, I guess that my own walled garden is really well-built and tended, since I've never had any of these problems.
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I see. Well, I guess that my own walled garden is really well-built and tended, since I've never had any of these problems.
And if you live a sheltered life obviously everyone else does too!
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Whence did you infer that my life is sheltered, smartypants? I simply choose different storms, those in a teacup don't appeal to me.
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In the Apple walled garden there is a messaging system called iMessage. Anything outside of Apple can't use this system so for example if you have a combination of devices, Apple and Android for example, then everything gets screwed up. Sending and receiving messages doesn't work correctly, you miss important messages because of someone else's device thinking your on iMessage or whatever. Mostly Apple makes everything as difficult as possible if you OR ANYONE ELSE uses iMessage.
How is iMessage a walled garden? If I have a phone number then I can send a message to that number and it just works. I remember sending a text message to a land line phone number by accident once and I was told by the recipient that he got a phone call and there was a robotic voice reading the message to him. What happens with Android if there is an attempt to send a text message to a land line phone? If I can text to a land line with iMessage but not anything on Android then that doesn't look like App
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What happens with Android if there is an attempt to send a text message to a land line phone?
The same as with iOS. It sends an SMS, and then its up to the network operator what they do with it - in your case they clearly have a system to read out the messages.
Re: What is this brouhaha about? (Score:1)
iMessage will simply switch to SMS/MMS. At least on VoIP numbers, they simply appear as that which can easily go to emails, attachments would be the original media sent from the iOS device. So not sure what youâ(TM)re on about that there is some problem communicating.
The only problem I have is that if someone is using a shit OS that insists on the rather deprecated and closed source RCS methods which includes re-encoding videos as low res 3GP if you have to leave the RCS ecosystem.
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In the Apple walled garden there is a messaging system called iMessage. Anything outside of Apple can't use this system so for example if you have a combination of devices, Apple and Android for example, then everything gets screwed up. Sending and receiving messages doesn't work correctly, you miss important messages because of someone else's device thinking your on iMessage or whatever. Mostly Apple makes everything as difficult as possible if you OR ANYONE ELSE uses iMessage.
Beeper adds a compatibility layer so that iMessage works on Android or whatever. Apple don't like that.
Nice, Completely Biased "Explanation", COWARD.
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Re: What is this brouhaha about? (Score:2, Insightful)
iBeeper found an exploit in the iMessage protocol that allowed anyone to send messages and make it appear as if they were End-to-End Encrypted (E2EE). They tried to make a company out of it, Apple patches it, company folds and blames Apple for anti-competitive practices, now Android fanboys wants big government to mandate Apple builds them a functional messaging app because Androids donâ(TM)t work well with bog standard SMS/MMS.
That is the current state of the so-called story.
Re: What is this brouhaha about? (Score:4, Interesting)
iBeeper found an exploit in the iMessage protocol that allowed anyone to send messages ... Apple patches it, company folds and blames Apple for anti-competitive practices
So, someone used an "exploit" to make a closed protocol interoperable, the interoperability was shut down. Well, I've not missed many a proprietary protocol, I guess I'll continue to live without this one.
That being said, I can clearly see the logic of the point that it is potentially a part of an anti-competitive strategy. We've been there with the various versions of the SMB protocol, for example, although it was very long time ago. Not sure why are you calling it "blaming", it could be a legitimate concern.
now Android fanboys wants big government to mandate Apple builds them a functional messaging app
This is at odds with the first part of your message, as obviously nobody is asking for "a functional messaging app", but for protocol access. You sure you're not an "Apple fanboi" yourself?
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We are still there with the SMB protocol. Yes, it's mostly reverse engineered but Microsoft regularly adds some special sauce to make their servers work 'better' or have certain functionality.
It's not about making the proprietary protocol interoperable, any programmer with half a brain can reverse engineer the protocol and you could run it on your own servers. But that's not what this company did, they published an app that illegitimately used Apple's server for its infrastructure by forging a signature and
But isn't this battle redundant soon? (Score:2)
Especially with Apple announcing iOS Messages app support for the GSMA-compliant version of Rich Communications Services (RCS) in 2024. I wouldn't be surprised if after the iOS 17.3 release, iOS 17.4 will be the first to support RCS. Once RCS is supported in iOS, Beeper's attempt to break into iMessages is pretty much over.
Re: But isn't this battle redundant soon? (Score:1)
Re: But isn't this battle redundant soon? (Score:2)
It doesnâ(TM)t preserve photos or videos for that matter, the server re-encodes them to save bandwidth.
For a good cause... ? (Score:5, Insightful)
All this just so Android users can get blue text bubbles on iPhones. Is that really such a big deal if you're not a 13yo?
Re: For a good cause... ? (Score:1)
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Re: For a good cause... ? (Score:2)
It's not about the bubbles. This is about enriched messaging: getting typing notifications, read receipts, being able to send high quality images/video, etc.
When people with iPhones message each other, these things just "work." But when they message an android user, it's a vastly degraded experience. Just the other day my wife's cousin sent her a video and it's this unwatchable piece of shit; compressed to hell and so low-rez it would give a RealPlayer stream from the 90s a superiority complex.
Question we've all been waiting for... (Score:2)
What happens next ?? (Score:2)