Apple Smashes Ban Hammer on Beeper iMessage Users
It was only a matter of time. But is this what Eric wanted all along?
Apple has taken to banning Beeper’s Android users from iMessage entirely. It feels like punishment for using the “unauthorized” messaging gateway. Tim’s crew still claims Beeper is a threat to user security, but nobody’s buying that excuse.
Cofounder Eric Migicovsky (pictured) has all but given up Beeper’s game of Whac-A-Mole. In today’s SB Blogwatch, we pick up the next shoe.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: Chuffley.
Empire Strikes Back
What’s the craic? Malcolm Owen broke the story—“Beeper Mini users find Macs banned from iMessage”:
“Cat-and-mouse”
In what could be retaliation against the use of the controversial messaging app, [users] claim that Apple is banning Macs from being able to make iMessage posts at all. It appears that Apple may be detecting the instances … being used by Beeper, and then striking the registration’s access from iMessage. The problem is that doing so also blocks the legitimate [user] too.
…
While affected users can only contact Apple support in a bid to restore access, Beeper doesn’t seem to be continuing the fight with Apple: … The company admits it “can’t win a cat-and-mouse game with the largest company on earth.”
Sounds a bit anticompetitive. Sarah Perez adds—“Beeper users say Apple is now blocking their Macs”:
“Posed significant risks to user security”
Apple customers who used Beeper’s apps [have] been banned from using iMessage on their Macs — a move [that] penalizes its own customers for daring to try a non-Apple solution for accessing iMessage. … The tech giant’s actions [have] caught the attention of lawmakers, leading a bipartisan group of legislators to implore the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Apple’s “potential anticompetitive treatment” of the Beeper Mini application.
…
Apple … support reps are telling them their computer has been flagged for spam, or for sending too many messages — even though that’s not the case. … It originally said Beeper techniques had “posed significant risks to user security and privacy, including the potential for metadata exposure and enabling unwanted messages, spam, and phishing attacks.”
Can you handle the truth? Beeper cofounder Eric Migicovsky chats to Lauren Goode—“Migicovsky says interoperability between Big Tech’s walled gardens is urgently needed”:
“The truth is …”
The case we were trying to make [is] it made the experience better for both iPhone customers and Android users. The previous experience was that you, on an iPhone, would have texted me, on an Android, over an unencrypted, low-quality SMS protocol. … It’s kind of crazy that we’re now in 2024 and there still isn’t an easy, encrypted, high-quality way for something as simple as a text. … Apple [argued] Beeper Mini threatened the security and privacy of iMessage users, when in reality, the truth is the exact opposite.
…
It’s not only about blue bubbles. It’s about being able to participate in group chats, it’s about being able to have an encrypted conversation. … People are just like, “Why can’t I send this video to my friend on an Android? Is it Android’s fault or iPhone’s fault?” The blue bubble versus green bubble is kind of a proxy explanation.
…
Were we expecting this response? No. The truth is, we built this app and we’re extremely happy with how it came out.
Yeah, right. clay_the_ripper isn’t buying that, either:
This whole thing is … basically an elaborate plan to eventually use this in court against Apple to prove its anti-competitive practices. [Or] at the least this is a press strategy orchestrated by someone with an interest in opening up the iMessage monopoly.
I’m sure [Eric] realized early on that … the vulnerability to Apple shutting them down was obvious. Which leads me to conclude he saw value to be created in just basically messing with Apple. … I am not suggesting that he founded the company to do this. I am suggesting that the motives for their recent actions are driven by something other than finding product market fit.
…
Clearly Eric is a very intelligent person. I find it hard to believe that he believed that reverse engineering such an elaborate workaround would work. … Maybe he just wants to prove a point and use the exposure to promote their next app: … The PR strategy so far is crushing it.
But why, though? u/baurcab makes this excellent point:
Migicovsky has history with Apple: … Apple Watch was one of the nails in the Pebble coffin. Part of me wonders if this is sort of a convenient way to agitate/be a pest.
Which would be well deserved, argues caseih:
Apple’s hostility towards their own customers is quite amazing, really. … Microsoft may dictate what the UI looks like and how we start our programs, regardless of user desires. But they generally don’t seem to care what you do with Windows once you’ve paid them.
And ericzawo agrees:
[Apple] went from, “Here’s to the crazy ones,” to, “We’ll punish our customers for not jumping how we say,” in 30 years.
But Brent Plummer doesn’t get it:
I don’t get it. Convert your family/friends to Signal or WeChat if you want cross-platform messaging so bad.
Why would you use or care about this so much? It’s Apple’s protocol and their servers. Deal with it.
Meanwhile, edcline’s gotta catch a faux haiku:
Start business violating EULA,
Blocked for violating EULA,
Surprised Pikachu face.
And Finally:
You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi, @richij or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Do not stare into laser with remaining eye. E&OE. 30.
Image sauce: Beeper, Inc.
