Beeper, the app known for enabling iMessage on Android, is introducing a solution to overcome Apple’s recent blocking. The company emphasizes that this fix, planned for release tomorrow, requires either owning a Mac or connecting with a Beeper user who has access to one.
In a Reddit post, Beeper highlights the requirement to transmit “registration data” from a legitimate Mac when users link iMessage on their platform. Previously, Beeper utilized its Mac servers for this purpose, but this approach became susceptible to Apple’s interventions due to the shared registration data among thousands of Beeper users.
The update aims to rectify this vulnerability by generating unique registration data for each user. The company asserts that this personalized approach enhances reliability in establishing connections. Beeper Mini users can also benefit from this fix by utilizing their Mac’s registration data, with periodic regeneration required, necessitating the Mac to be regularly powered on.
Beeper suggests an alternative for users without a Mac – seeking assistance from a Beeper friend with a Mac, as multiple users can safely share the same registration data, according to their testing results. Beeper declares its intention to open source the complete iMessage bridge and the Mac code responsible for generating registration data.
Despite these efforts, the fix introduces limitations to Beeper’s original appeal, which allowed non-Apple users to access iMessage. Some users express frustration on platforms like Reddit, with comments like, “At this point, I am willing to wait for Apple to come out with RCS support.” Conversely, others welcome the fix, acknowledging it as a temporary solution to integrate various messaging apps.
Apple has not responded to inquiries regarding Beeper’s situation. The company’s continuous efforts to thwart Beeper raise uncertainties about the fix’s long-term effectiveness.
This development follows a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers urging the Department of Justice to investigate Apple for its “potential anticompetitive treatment” of Beeper. The lawmakers emphasize the importance of interoperability and interconnections in fostering competition and consumer choice in communication services.