Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- A brand new app referred to as Sunbird is working to convey iMessage to Android.
- In an illustration, the corporate confirmed off how the app works.
- We couldn’t get the app to completely work ourselves, however a number of facets of the setup did work.
For years now, the most important differentiator between iPhone customers and Android customers has been iMessage (nicely, right here within the US anyway). With iPhone customers having their very own particular place to congregate the place Android customers are at finest irritating and at worst outright banned, it’s brought about an enormous schism between the 2 platforms.
A number of corporations have tried to unravel this drawback. Google, for all its cash and energy, has merely taken to poo-pooing the entire scenario publicly and inspiring Apple to undertake RCS. An organization referred to as Beeper brings iMessage to Android by charging customers to attach an Android gadget with a bodily Apple-powered machine, akin to a Mac and even an iPhone.
Sunbird, although, is seeking to be the one true app to rule all of them. In the present day, the corporate gave Android Authority a rundown of the app (which continues to be in alpha) and the way it works.
Sunbird: iMessage on Android…perhaps?
Throughout the firm’s presentation, it confirmed a pre-recorded screencast of a Samsung telephone speaking with what’s presumably an iPhone utilizing iMessage. There have been blue bubbles, Emoji reactions, typing indicators, and so on. For all intents and functions, it regarded just like the Samsung telephone was an iPhone.
Nonetheless, the corporate by no means confirmed what the iPhone noticed. And, because it was a pre-recorded video, we have been naturally skeptical. The corporate ended up giving us early entry to the Sunbird app so we may strive it out for ourselves.
The excellent news is that I used to be capable of join my Apple ID to Sunbird. I used to be capable of log in to Apple by way of the Sunbird app and, theoretically, join the 2. Nonetheless, my makes an attempt to then ship iMessages failed. My recipients merely by no means acquired my messages, no matter whether or not it was textual content, a photograph, or a vCard.
Sunbird tried to troubleshoot with me however we couldn’t get it working. We are going to report again if we will get it up and operating sooner or later.
How does it work and what is going to it value?
Sunbird has no plans to open-source its know-how for bringing iMessage to Android. As such, we didn’t hear an in depth report on how this app works (or at the least ought to work).
Nonetheless, from what the corporate did say, it sounds prefer it has taken the Beeper technique — connecting an Android telephone to an Apple-based system — and brought a couple of additional steps. First, every particular person person doesn’t want their very own related {hardware}. Sunbird has discovered some approach to enable hundreds of customers to hook up with a single machine. Second, the corporate has additionally discovered a approach to protect end-to-end encryption by way of this technique, which is one thing corporations like Beeper can not present (at the least not but). As soon as once more, Sunbird didn’t disclose the way it does both of these items.
Fortunately, if and when it does work and launches to the general public, Sunbird says the app can be free — for some time. Early birds will get entry to iMessage on Android and never must pay a dime. Sooner or later, the corporate may monetize the app by charging for different related providers, akin to Telegram, Sign, or different chat apps.
Within the meantime, we’ll proceed working with Sunbird to get the app up and operating on our personal gadgets.
