Beeper Mini – the latest Android app that promises to bring iMessage support to non-Apple phones – may be fairly new to the scene, but it’s already set its sights on delivering another iPhone for the masses. The team has made it clear that this is what they are currently aiming for. Add Facetime audio and video calls to third-party apps.
The announcement was made via a post on the Beeper Blog, in which the developer highlighted several other features they are currently working on. This includes a block list, full text search, the best flip phone UI, and the ability to schedule messages. Over time, there are plans for Beeper Mini to support his SMS, WhatsApp, Signal, Matrix and many other chat networks.
The one-stop-shop messaging app has since been renamed Beeper, reclaiming the title used by the first version of the company’s app before replacing the service with Beeper Cloud and Beeper Mini.
As you asked, what is the problem? Well, Beeper Mini isn’t free to use. It currently costs $1.99/month (approximately $1.60 / AU$3), and while some users love it, reviews on the Android Store page say it needs a few more quality of life upgrades to feel like it’s worth it. Some users point out that it is necessary.
Is Beeper Mini safe and secure?
Another concern is how will all this privacy be kept safe? It was less than a month ago that we saw the rise and explosive failure of Nothing Chats due to its almost complete lack of privacy. This service requires you to hand over your iCloud login information, and because the service is not end-to-end encrypted, Sunbird protects all text, images, and videos you send using the service. I was able to access it.
To Beeper Mini’s credit, it appears that this hurdle has already been overcome. Chats are end-to-end encrypted, so only you and the person you’re messaging can see what you’re sending. Additionally, according to Beeper’s FAQ, “Beeper cannot access your Apple account.”
The data the app collects is:
- Name and phone number
- your IP address
- User agent (phone model, Android version)
- Email addresses for Google and Apple accounts
- anonymous push notification token
- Diagnostic information (optional)
According to the FAQ, “that’s all.” The reason we don’t have to collect as much data as in previous attempts to bring iMessage to Android is because the information doesn’t go through an intermediary server. Instead, the app connects directly to Apple’s servers.
Given that Beeper Mini supports end-to-end encryption with iMessage, it’s actually likely more secure than regular text chats between iPhone and Android phone users.
We’ll have to wait to see how Beeper Mini develops, but for now it appears to offer a more immediate and somewhat comprehensive solution to green bubbles and secure messaging between iMessage and Android phones. You’ll need to compare it to other best encrypted messaging apps (some of which are completely free) to decide if it’s worth the cost of joining.