Well it was a fun few days but beeper mini is down. Someone supposedly affiliated with the project said on reddit it was on Beeper’s end but people testing it say Apple has blocked something.
Either way it’s just more illustration that it isn’t because Apple can’t do iMessage on android. Not that anyone should have ever believed that. They just want a walled garden with their users trapped inside to be repeatedly prayed upon. And not even RCS coming to iOS is really going to change that.
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My issue with the demands to have apple allow iMessage on other platforms is that then we could get stuck with the expectation of catering to those users.
There already are encrypted messengers like signal, telegram, or even WhatsApp. Why aren’t people pushing at Apple users to make that switch themselves
Why aren’t people pushing at Apple users to make that switch themselves
If you’ve ever tried to get someone to use the non-default… anything, you would probably note that most people will not go out of their way to use something that isn’t the default. The fact that Apple doesn’t allow you to set another messenger app means that your appeal to most Apple users will quickly run into the neat wall that Apple keeps around their garden. It doesn’t hurt Apple’s defense of that default that they convey a special status to users of the default, why would someone who is special in the default app (blue bubble) go out of their way to be a normie elsewhere?
Apple does not want to switch. Apple likes their trapped prey in a walled garden. They will do a minimalist RCS implementation. And then when people fail to adopt it because it purposely doesn’t have the features that iMessage has. They can feign that they complied. But the people have spoken and they want the monopoly.
And what really would be the cost of catering to those people? I think plenty of Android people would be happy if they were even a second thought as long as they were a thought at all. If beeper was actually selling subscriptions for this. Apple is actively trying not to do business. They could easily provide this service for the same price or more that they give to Apple users for free. It’s like Apple doesn’t want money. Or that they think there’s more money to be had by keeping their users locks down and trapped.
Apple does not want to switch.
Are confusing Apple, the company, with Apple users? Apple users all over the world happily use other messengers (usually WhatsApp). It’s only the Americans who are being weird.
Nope.
You aren’t wrong that there are outlier markets, where iPhone doesn’t have the same market dominance. Or for unrelated reasons don’t have the lock on messaging that Apple has in the US. You’re confusing the outliers for the core group.
Is kind of funny you even mentioned WhatsApp. Do you understand how WhatsApp got to where it is? It wasn’t by being the best or most competitive. It took root in a lot of European countries where smartphone adoption was much slower and later. Ultimately it’s almost the same issues as iMessage. Just for Europe. Literally the EU is trying to legislate to force them to be interoperable and open just like Apple and iMessage. Even suggesting it is kind of tone deaf.
But here’s a thought experiment to leave you with. Why can’t IM be like email? Why shouldn’t it be like email? Why should we leave these services at the whim and total control of wealthy, oligarchs and fascists?
You don’t need to leave any thought experiments with me. I was making the point that only in the US the iPhone users are so brainwashed to stick to iMessage at all costs.
Btw, your explanation makes no sense because the first iPhones had no iMessage. iMessage only launched in 2011, meaning they had years to use something cross platform and then migrate away.
Yes but you tried to hand wave it away because only European users are brainwashed to stick to WhatsApp at all cost. Neither is good. Both can and should be better. The existence of one does not exempt the other.
It makes plenty of sense if you understand the history. Apple for all their faults did get the first modern smart phone out. They had a lot of momentum from that. And with iMessage they parlayed that into lock in.
I’m not advocating in favor of WhatsApp specifically, I’m advocating for cross platform messaging in general. iMessage is clearly among the worst options, given it’s tied to one specific ecosystem.
On that at least we are 100% agreed.
Exactly. Screw that. I rather use a better app that are much more popular in Europe
Exactly… I really don’t need another messaging app. Apple users should feel the pain and just switch to something else.
Owww! :(
That’s sad. But at the same times trying to bypass a gatekeeper is always incertain. They can change something that is difficult to reverse enginering and it’s the end of the story. :/
Good. Now they can sue for damages.
Lol no
lol yes
They charged a subscription, there’s a material loss. Not saying they’ll win but apples walled garden has been defeated in a few places (right to repair, usb c, side loading apps, defaulting music players etc).
They charged a subscription with a 7 day free trial for everyone that signed up. It’s been less than 7 days, ergo no one has been charged any money.
Potential earnings then. You can sue for anything and I hope they do. Even if they lose it will add to the anticompetitive pile of shit that will eventually force them to open up.
I think I’m confused. Who are you suggesting be sued?
