iMessage on Android had support — but Apple killed it anyway

iMessage on Android had back up — but Apple killed information technology anyway

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Apple'south iMessage could have made it to Android back in 2013, had Apple not decided to goose egg the project and proceed information technology an iOS sectional. But it turns out not everyone was on board with that decision.

This revelation comes equally part of the ongoing legal dispute betwixt Apple tree and Epic Games. Co-ordinate to released depositions from Eddy Cue, the executive responsible for numerous digital Apple tree services and storefronts, reveal that he wanted to bring iMessage to Android viii years ago. But Apple killed the idea pretty speedily.

Google has issued an update for beta users that fixes at least one annoying problem when messaging between Android and iMessage users.

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The Ballsy Games instance has previously revealed that Apple killed the thought of launching iMessage on Android. But newly-released documents testify that the decision to kill the idea was not completely unanimous.

Both Craig Federighi, SVP of Software and Engineering who is in charge of iOS, and Phil Schiller, who is in accuse of the App Shop, were against the idea. They believed that launching a cross-platform version of iMessage would "simply serve to remove [an] obstruction to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones."

It turns out that Cue disagreed with this argument, having already recommended that Apple make iMessage on Android "an official projection". The idea of that project being that information technology would give users on both iOS and Android a way to "exchange messages with one another seamlessly."

Cue'due south statement was that Apple had the best messaging service at the time, and by porting it to Android information technology could get "the manufacture standard". iMessage on Android would also prevent Google from asserting its dominance in some other field. As Cue pointed out, the search giant already had search, email, video, and browsers under its belt at the time.

Unfortunately, the rest of the conversation that could pertain to iMessage is redacted, and we tin can't see what else Cue might have said on the topic.

A lot has inverse since 2013

But with the do good of hindsight, nosotros know that Cue'southward fears never played out the mode he imagined. Google has struggled with messaging apps over the years, and there have been several attempts to offering instant messaging that never really took off.

The company has been pushing for mass adoption of iMessage-like RCS messaging over the past couple of years, but that hasn't fabricated much of an impact. Certainly non since RCS isn't supported on the iPhone.

Instead, the Facebook-endemic WhatsApp cemented itself as the get-to cross-platform messenger of choice. Though you could argue that WhatsApp was already on its style at that place, which is why Facebook paid $19 billion for the company.

The question is what impact iMessage on Android would accept had. Do people really purchase iPhones but for iMessage? Information technology's i of the nicer benefits of using an iPhone, and communicating with other iPhone users, but information technology's hard to say how much of a selling point information technology is.

Parents who want better ways to go on in bear on with their kids may well purchase them iPhones to keep everything nice and neat. If iMessage were on Android, parents could just every bit hands purchase one of the best cheap phones at $200 or less. An iPhone SE costs $399.

Having iMessage launch on Android eight years ago would have been a huge do good to Android users, and put Apple in a position of power where instant messaging was concerned, But at the same time, information technology wouldn't sell whatever more iPhones or Apple tree Services. And so where's the incentive to do information technology?

Unfortunately, the prospect of having iMessage on Android at present seems out of accomplish correct now. Cue himself testified that it would have been possible dorsum in 2013, but "that wouldn't exist the case over time, because of the features that were added to Letters".

In other words iMessage has continued to evolve on the Apple tree platform over the years, and it's suggested that there would be a lot more logistical hurdles than simply porting the app to Android as information technology is.

More than: How to turn off or deregister iMessage

Tom is the Tom's Guide's Automotive Editor, which means he tin can usually be found knee joint deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It'south long way from his days every bit editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's usually institute trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he actually needs online.