Arr! Me hearties, the wee Beeper Mini be returnin' after Apple's cease, but alas, it be missin' its grand allure.
2023-12-12
Arr, ye scurvy landlubber! The Beeper Mini be a-demandin' ye to sign up with an AppleID login, and for now, it be as free as a fine booty! But mind ye, it might not last, so take advantage while ye still can, ye savvy?
The Beeper Mini app, which allowed Android users to send and receive texts using the iMessage protocol, has been relaunched with some changes. Previously, users only needed to enter their phone number to use the app, but now they must sign in with their AppleID credentials. Texts will be exchanged through the email address listed on the AppleID, making it less convenient than before. However, the app still allows communication with iMessage.Beeper Mini plans to restore phone number registration in the future and has made the app free for now, with the possibility of reintroducing a monthly fee later. The developer has also made commitments to Apple, including sharing the app's codebase with a third-party security research firm and considering adding a pager emoji to messages from the app to make it easier for iMessages to filter them out.
It remains uncertain if Apple will leave the app alone, as they have a history of taking action against similar services. However, Apple has shown flexibility by supporting the RCS protocol from Android phones. The situation has caught the attention of the US government, with Senator Elizabeth Warren advocating for the existence of Beeper Mini and suggesting improving security measures and communication between platforms.
The updated Beeper Mini app is available for download on the Google Play Store. The developer has not provided a timeframe for future fixes or shared their goals in sharing the codebase.