Android’s Sunbird might actually be able to cure us of the green bubble iMessage scourge

If there’s one factor that iPhone and Android customers each agree on, it’s the hatred of green bubbles. A pox on the messaging neighborhood, green bubbles damage group messages, blow up relationships, and create an total worse expertise for everybody concerned.

A brand new app names Sunbird desires to change that. Available in closed beta and eyeing a summer season 2023 launch, the idea is straightforward: Android customers will be able to talk with their iPhone associates as if everybody was utilizing an iPhone. Macworld was proven a demo of the system in use and it’s fairly slick: Sign in with an Apple ID, authenticate your account along with your two-factor authentication code, and begin texting.

The builders declare that since it’s utilizing Apple’s personal iMessage system, Sunbird doesn’t retailer your Apple ID password on its servers and all messages are nonetheless end-to-end encrypted: “Users get safety (encryption), web messaging, full-quality media, iMessage group chats, reactions/faucet backs, live-typing, and browse receipts, with plans to add new options commonly.”

This isn’t the first time somebody has tried to convey iMessage to Android, nevertheless it does seem to be the easiest. Other options want a Mac or an iPhone working software program that communicates with a dedicated server, however Sunbird requires little or no setup and nil funding. The builders say it’ll be free “for now,” with no plans to monetize the service at launch.

However, there are plans to develop Sunbird to different messaging apps. First on the checklist is Whatsapp and Telegram and Messenger are additionally on their radar. The aim is to flip Sunbird right into a one-stop messaging app that allows you to talk with anybody on any platform it doesn’t matter what service or OS they’re utilizing. There are additionally plans to make an internet app for Sunbird as properly.

“By inventing new expertise that offers Android customers iMessage on Android, one can take pleasure in the hottest features and options uniting the high messaging apps that individuals use each day,” stated Danny Mizrahi, CEO, and Founder of Sunbird Messaging. “One inbox for all of your messages.”

It stays to be seen whether or not Apple will enable Sunbird to function with no battle, nonetheless. Sunbird says it brings the complete iMessage expertise—typing prompts, uncompressed photographs and movies, and of course, blue bubbles—to Android telephones and isn’t reliant on Apple to play alongside. However, Apple has admitted that iMessage “lock-in” is one of the greatest the reason why it hasn’t introduced the service to Android, so it’ll possible take umbrage with Sunbird’s app. It’s unclear what recourse Apple has since the app will be in the Google Play Store and never the App Store, however Apple’s attorneys will possible take a protracted onerous look.

For now, Android customers join a waitlist to take part in a closed beta of Sunbird. So the subsequent time your Android pal texts you a message with a blue bubble, it might not imply they’ve switched telephones—it might simply imply they downloaded a brand new app.