IMessage For Android Should Be A Priority For Apple Heres How Id Do It
It's almost 2024, which means iMessage will soon be 13 years old Easily one of Apple's best products, iMessage is a secure and private mobile chat app that everyone in the industry wants to emulate and surpass. iMessage is such a great product that Google has been running RCS ads based on it for years.
It's so good that some of the people who want to use it the most are die-hard Android users who won't buy an iPhone. But to get out of the blue or blue they need an iMessage in their life. The problem comes with green chat bubbles. For some reason this remains a problem in the US but not in Europe.
The full Beeper Mini story shows how the beloved iMessage ended up on Android unintentionally. Apple issued a major fix that made the beeper app unusable. The final solution is that Beeper requires Android users to log in to their Mac for iMessage to work. The beeper will soon ask them to buy an iPhone.
Additionally, the Beeper Mini could run into trouble with lawmakers, who could launch an antitrust investigation into Apple's handling of iMessage. I have already explained why this is a bad idea and why MPs are wrong about it.
As good as iMessage is, these developments are bad public relations for Apple. After 13 years of iMessage dominance, Apple needs to go ahead and release an iMessage app. I will train and pay Android users who want to access one of the best chat apps in the world.
While iMessage may no longer be such a competitive advantage,
Apple was reluctant to introduce iMessage in the early days of Android apps, and rightly so. iMessage had a huge advantage over Android. For some people, this is a good reason to switch to an iPhone. This was years ago. I don't think this applies anymore and I speak as a long time iPhone user.
I always ask the people I talk to which apps they prefer to use, SMS excluded. Most people in Europe use WhatsApp, even on iPhones. I have experience with multi chat with some and it works.
The thing is, no one cares about the color of the balloon. And iMessage certainly isn't holding anyone back. For this reason, iMessage is not a gatekeeper service in this region.
Thanks to Google's relentless campaigning and renewed attention from events like Beeper Mini, iMessage is getting more bad publicity than it deserves. The release of iMessage for Android will solve all these problems. And Apple probably won't have any reason to worry about losing iPhone sales as a result.
The current market has reached a certain stage of maturity. The iPhone has the leading market share in the US, while Android is the global leader.
The iPhone is a highly sought-after device among the mainstream population. And the iPhone sold very well in times of economic uncertainty. Apple must know why people are switching to the iPhone because it made an app for it.
The iMessage app for Android should be similar to the iPhone.
Therefore, if I were Apple, I would put huge resources into developing iMessage for Android. I will make sure that the Android version of the app has the same functionality as the iPhone version and updates are released on time.
iMessage for Android will follow the same principles as the iOS version. It will be end-to-end encrypted and therefore private. It will support advanced communication such as iPhone apps, all the latest emojis and integration with various built-in apps.
I recommend Android users to do this because you can choose the default messaging app on Android. Making iMessage the default chat app on Android will also support SMS chat, the app's green bubble. RCS Chat will soon be part of the deal, but will be based on GSMA standards, not Google's version of RCS.
I would change the conversation the same way. Because right now, critics are turning on Apple and calling out the company for not letting Android users chat securely with iPhone users. Those critics forget that apps like iMessage cost money.
Android Users Have to Pay for iMessage
One of the most annoying things about all of iMessage on Android is believing that iMessage is free on Android. People forget that iMessage is not a communication standard. It is not a God-given right. It is a proprietary program that costs money to develop and run. My way of paying for iMessage is to buy an iPhone.
Beeper Mini stole iMessage access and then charged Android users for it. It seems that running iMessage on Android is expensive, or that Beeper Mini wanted to profit from Apple's business But it's Apple that keeps the lights on when it comes to smooth, seamless iMessage access.
Bringing iMessage to Android will not be free, and I will make Android users pay for it Don't want to buy an iPhone to access iMessage? No problem. Here's iMessage for Android. Here's how much it costs to access your chats each month. After a one-month free trial, it can cost between $1 and $10 per month
Early adopters of WhatsApp should note that this service is not free. That was before Meta bought it for $19 billion. I then paid to enter.
Remember, you get your own Apple account through iMessage on Android. It can connect iMessage with cloud storage. This must include security and privacy, including end-to-end encryption and a way to back up iMessage conversations and recover data if you lose your password. Over time, I will bring FaceTime integration to iMessage.
In addition to monthly subscriptions, I will also introduce Apple services within iMessage. I'll focus on what Android users can get from Apple without buying an iPhone This is a subscription to Apple TV Plus or Apple Music. I'll be focusing a lot more on entertainment, especially new original content on Apple TV Plus.
I will also cover Apple events where new iPhones and other products will be launched, focusing on the latter. Die-hard Android users may not want an iPhone, but they can opt for iPads, Macs, and AirPods. These will not be targeted ads and I will not use any type of advertising on iMessage for Android except for Apple product news.
I want to remind Android users that iMessage will always be free on iPhone. That Apple is also developing a program that allows them to change if they want.
Some people will still be unhappy.
Similarly, I will change the iMessage settings. And of course not everyone will be happy. Google hates iMessage becoming the default chat app on Android. Meta also hates the extra competition that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger will get. Suddenly, iMessage would become a cross-platform app that could gain millions of users.
Some Android users balk at the thought of paying for iMessage. Regulators may come down on Apple, especially in Europe, where iMessage will almost certainly become a gatekeeper service.
But overall, iMessage could be another affordable service for Apple that doesn't involve buying new hardware. And who knows, maybe such a program is already being implemented. Perhaps RCS support in iMessage is just a step away from the Android app.
