Sunbird app aims to allow Android users to communicate via iMessage
First and foremost, let’s just say that Sunbird is currently in an alpha state. The company did explain how the app will work, when it becomes available, and Android Authority got the scoop. The company showed a pre-recorded screencast of a Samsung phone, which is communicating with an iPhone via iMessage. The source notes that there were blue bubbles, Emoji reactions, typing indicators, and everything else you’d expect. Needless to say, folks over at Android Authority were a bit skeptical following that presentation, but the company did provide them with early access to the Sunbird app. So, does it work? Well, the source says that he was able to connect his Apple ID to Sunbird. He, however, was unable to actually send iMessages. He says that his recipients never received those messages, regardless of what he sent. He tried to troubleshoot the issue with Sunbird, but that didn’t help. It is currently in Alpha, though, so… we’ll have to wait and see.
Sunbird doesn’t plan to open-source its tech
It is worth noting that Sunbird doesn’t plan to open-source its tech for this. So, we’re not exactly sure how will this actually work, and what kind of a workaround did Sunbird come up with. Based on what the company said, though, it’s possible they’re using the Beeper method. They’re trying to connect an Android phone to an Apple-based system, with some additional steps thrown into the mix. It’s worth noting that each individual user doesn’t need its own connected hardware. Sunbird seemingly figured out how to connect thousands of users to a single machine. The company also figured out how to preserve end-to-end encryption. Sunbird did say that the app will be free, for a while, at least. Early birds will get access to iMessage on Android and won’t have to pay anything. The company could monetize the app down the line, though, by charging for other connected services, such as Telegram, Signal, and so on.
