Beeper Mini returns, requires AppleID for iMessage access
Beeper Mini resurrects, but at a cost. The app is back, yet one of its key features has been sacrificed. The developer presses on, navigating the ever-changing landscape of tech.
Highlights
- The Android app is back, but now users need AppleID credentials for iMessage, a departure from its previous simplicity
- Beeper Mini is currently free, offering a workaround for users adjusting to the new sign-in requirement
- In an attempt to ease tensions, Beeper proposes sharing its codebase and potentially adding a pager emoji, aiming for a resolution with Apple
In the ongoing Beeper Mini saga, the Android app that lets users access iMessage faced a setback when Apple blocked its service over safety concerns. Recently, Beeper managed to revive the app but with a significant change users now need AppleID credentials instead of just a phone number.
Initially, Beeper Mini's appeal was its simplicity—users only needed their phone number. However, now, to send and receive texts through iMessage, users must sign in with their AppleID. While less convenient, it allows continued communication through the email associated with the AppleID.
Temporary free access
In response to the adjustment, Beeper Mini will be free for now, with plans to potentially reintroduce a subscription fee once stability is achieved. The app aims to bring back phone number registration in the future but hasn't specified when.
Apple’s uncertain response
Beeper, offering to share the app's codebase with a security firm if safety concerns persist. They also suggested adding a pager emoji to help iMessage filter Beeper Mini texts.
A pager emoji refers to a symbol representing a pager, a device used for sending short messages to help iMessage filter out texts coming from the Beeper Mini app.
The idea is to facilitate smoother communication and potentially address Apple's safety concerns. Whether Apple will accept these gestures remains uncertain, especially given its history of strict control over its ecosystem.
A complex dance between tech giants
The US government noticed the Beeper Mini situation. Senator Elizabeth Warren, on X , asked Apple to let Beeper Mini continue. She pointed out that messages from Android, shown in "green bubbles" (which refer to text messages from Android devices, and the mention of their security concerns is part of the context provided), might be less secure. She suggested improving security and making communication between platforms easier.
The updated Beeper Mini is now on the Google Play Store. The government has asked the developer on X about future fixes and the reason for sharing the codebase but is waiting for a response.
