All articles tagged with #beeper
Originally Published 17 days ago — by Hackaday
Kyle Tryon has revived the classic pager concept by building a custom ESP32-based device that receives MQTT alerts and plays tunes, serving as a modern on-call beeper with a nostalgic 90s design.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Windows Central
Beeper is a free universal chat app that connects up to 14 chat services into a single desktop and mobile app, supporting messaging, group chats, images, and videos. After dropping its fee and iMessage support, Beeper has opened its app to everyone across multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and Android devices. The app, now owned by Automattic, offers an optional paid subscription model in the future and aims to consolidate various chat apps into one accessible place with a universal inbox.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Engadget
Automattic, the owner of WordPress and Tumblr, has acquired Beeper, the maker of the Beeper Mini app that briefly challenged Apple's iMessage dominance. The $125 million acquisition will merge Beeper's universal messaging app mission with Automattic's existing Texts app, with plans to launch a combined service later this year. The move comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny on tech giants and their control over messaging platforms, as well as Apple's upcoming support for RCS on iPhones. Despite Beeper Mini's short-lived iMessage integration on Android, Automattic's CEO sees a future favoring cross-platform, universal messaging apps, and the acquisition may also be attributed to the brand Beeper built in taking on Apple.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Verge
Beeper, the messaging app that consolidates various messaging services into one inbox, has been acquired by Automattic, the company behind Wordpress.com and Tumblr. The acquisition comes after Beeper's launch of Beeper Mini, which allowed Android users to access iMessage, leading to a dispute with Apple. Automattic sees messaging as a key pillar for its future and plans to integrate Beeper into its messaging strategy. The long-term goal is to replace current messaging systems with an open-source platform, leveraging Beeper's use of the Matrix protocol.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by WIRED
Messaging app Beeper, known for challenging Apple's iMessage dominance, has been acquired by Automattic for $125 million. Beeper will continue to exist as a stand-alone product within Automattic, and all 27 employees will be absorbed into the larger entity. The acquisition comes after Beeper's highly publicized battle with Apple, where it tried to bridge the gap between Android messaging and iMessage but was ultimately thwarted. Beeper's reliance on an open source protocol, Matrix, was appealing to Automattic, aligning with its strategy to offer more messaging features.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by TechCrunch
Automattic, the owner of WordPress.com, has acquired Beeper, the company behind the iMessage-on-Android solution, for $125 million. This marks Automattic's second acquisition of a cross-platform messaging solution. Beeper's team will merge with Texts.com's team to combine the best of both companies' products into one platform. The acquisition reflects Automattic's belief in the future of open-source messaging that works across services. Beeper's updated app on Android will connect with 14 different services and will soon support fully end-to-end encrypted messages across various platforms. The app will generate revenue through a premium subscription model, and the team plans to add more services in the future.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Android Central
Beeper has disabled new iMessage connections on Beeper Cloud after Apple banned 30 users' Macs from using iMessage due to "spam." The company has shifted focus away from iMessage and disabled new iMessage connections, leaving the future of iMessage functionality on Beeper uncertain. Users affected by the ban can remove Beeper Cloud clients and report problems to Apple Support, while Beeper's mobile app now serves as a universal home for 14 messaging apps.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by 9to5Google
Beeper has disabled the ability to connect to iMessage entirely after Apple banned some customers' Macs for using the app, following a series of back-and-forth actions between the two companies. Despite Beeper's efforts to keep the app alive on Android and other platforms, Apple continued to prevent full functionality. Beeper is now disabling the ability to use the Beeper Cloud app on macOS to connect to iMessage, preventing new connections, while existing connections can remain or be disabled. The company advises affected users to reach out to Beeper and then to Apple support to request unbanning.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The New York Times
Apple has blocked Beeper Mini customers from using their Mac computers to connect to iPhone messaging on their Android phones, revoking access to the messaging service without warning due to irregular activity. This move highlights Apple's efforts to maintain control over its services, sparking concerns about antitrust issues and drawing attention from regulators. After The New York Times contacted Apple, some Beeper customers reported being unblocked, but the situation underscores the ongoing conflict between Apple and Beeper.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by 9to5Google
Apple's crackdown on Beeper, an app attempting to bring iMessage to Android, has reportedly led to some users experiencing their Macs being blocked from using iMessage altogether. Beeper's reverse-engineered method of accessing iMessage was quickly shut down by Apple, and subsequent efforts to keep it working have been blocked. Users have reported issues with their Macs being banned from iMessage, with some experiencing connectivity problems and others finding the service entirely broken. The situation remains unclear, with speculation that Apple may be intentionally banning the hardware IDs used by these Macs.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by TechCrunch
Apple customers who used Beeper’s apps are reporting being banned from using iMessage on their Macs, following a contentious battle between Apple and Beeper over iMessage access. Beeper, a messaging app aggregator, had developed a solution that allowed access to iMessage on Android, but Apple quickly disabled it. Users now face iMessage bans on their Macs, leading to speculation of anticompetitive behavior. Apple's actions have drawn attention from lawmakers, with users reporting issues on public forums and seeking solutions from Apple support. Beeper has ceased efforts to develop an iMessage solution, while Apple and Beeper have been asked for further comment.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by WIRED
Beeper, an upstart company, reverse-engineered iMessage to allow Android phones full access to Apple’s messaging service, sparking a debate about antitrust law. Apple responded by tweaking its service and hobbling Beeper Mini, leading to questions about its actions. Beeper's cofounder argues for interoperability between iPhone and Android messaging apps, emphasizing the need for easy, encrypted, high-quality conversations. The company plans to focus on its primary app, Beeper, which supports 15 chat networks, and aims to embrace an open source protocol to enable seamless messaging across different platforms.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by TechCrunch
Beeper has announced that it is giving up on its mission to bring iMessage to Android after a month-long battle with Apple. Despite implementing a series of fixes, each one has been knocked down by Apple, leading Beeper to conclude that it cannot win a "cat-and-mouse" game with the tech giant. The latest workaround requires users to own or rent a jailbroken iPhone, significantly complicating the process. Beeper believes that this latest fix is something Apple will "tolerate," but it's possible that Apple may want to shut down the service altogether. Beeper has made its software open source for other developers, and it plans to shift its focus back to building the best chat app in the new year.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Engadget
Beeper, the chat app that aimed to bring iMessage support to Android devices, has announced that it is ending its cat-and-mouse game with Apple. After multiple fixes and workarounds, Beeper has released what it believes to be a solution that Apple can tolerate. The latest workaround involves pairing a mobile device with a Mac or an old iPhone. However, if Apple blocks this final fix, Beeper Mini will no longer be able to provide iMessage support. Beeper will continue to focus on its primary chat app and aims to become the "best chat app on Earth."
Originally Published 2 years ago — by 9to5Google
Beeper acknowledges the "unsustainable" nature of its fight to bring iMessage to Android and states that its latest fix, which involves using a jailbroken iPhone or access to a Mac, may be its last. Beeper admits that it cannot compete with Apple and will not respond if its solution is knocked offline. The company plans to shift its focus back to building the best chat app by 2024. Beeper also responds to claims that its product enables unwanted messages, spam, and phishing attacks, arguing that these issues already exist with SMS. Additionally, Beeper expresses doubt that Apple will release RCS support and offers to reimburse Apple for the infrastructure costs of enabling iPhone users to text Android users.