Apple Puts a Stop to Beeper Mini's iMessage for Android Feature

Apple appears to have closed the loophole that Beeper Mini used to bring iMessage to Android, putting a stop to blue bubbles from Android devices. Beeper Mini quit working earlier today, with users receiving "failed to lookup on server: lookup request timed out" error messages.

beeper mini
Beeper said on Twitter that it is investigating the issue, but Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky told TechCrunch that "all data" suggests that Apple has in fact found a way to stop Beeper Mini from working.

Introduced on Tuesday, Beeper Mini used reverse engineered iMessage protocols and encryption, taking advantage of Apple's own iMessage servers to allow Android users to send blue bubble iMessages to iPhone users. The app supported all iMessage functionality, including read receipts, typing indicators, reactions, and more.


Beeper Mini did not require an Apple ID, a departure from other, less secure iMessage on Android apps like Sunbird. The way Beeper Mini functioned was explained in-depth in a blog post, giving Apple insight into how it worked. Beeper Mini was using reverse engineering from security researcher jjtech, who also outlined his methodology and shared a proof-of-concept iMessage implementation on Github.

The app communicated directly with Apple's iMessage servers, and registered the phone numbers of Beeper users as iMessage users to allow for blue bubble access. After Beeper Mini's launch, there was immediate speculation that Apple would shut it down, but it was not clear if Apple would be able to do so given the way that it mimicked actual iMessage users.

Apple appears to have found a way, so this could be the end of Beeper Mini. Migicovsky told TechCrunch that the company will "evaluate options" to figure out what it means for the future of the app.

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Top Rated Comments

Mr. Awesome Avatar
18 months ago
Who could’ve seen this one coming?
Score: 58 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrat93 Avatar
18 months ago
Not surprising. I just wish Apple would quash this ridiculous issue by releasing iMessage for Android.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
killawat Avatar
18 months ago
The CEO was almost doing a press evangelism tour about how Apple wouldn't be able to touch his solution and wasn't morally justified in doing so. he poked the bear then twisted its arm.

edit: link to the video
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Maclver Avatar
18 months ago
I mean if you want iMessage get an iPhone... Back in the day, people couldn't have Blackberry Messenger on whatever device they wanted... Same way I can't buy Target branded products at Walmart.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
killawat Avatar
18 months ago
Party's Over.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeepWebinar Avatar
18 months ago
to those that are celebrating this— huh?

that’s the most junior high volunteer hall monitor energy imaginable
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)