Beeper Mini is currently down, possibly shut down by Apple (Update: partially working)

Beeper Mini is currently down, possibly shut down by Apple (Update: partially working)،

UPDATE 09/12/23: Beeper has provided an update on the Beeper Cloud and Beeper Mini applications. Beeper Cloud works partially, but only for Apple ID logins and does not use your phone number. Beeper Mini is still down and the company had to deregister all iMessage phone numbers saved via their workaround. This had to be done so that messages from iPhone users to Android would be sent via SMS instead of disappearing into the ether. The company says a fix will be available soon for both.

Additionally, the free trial period of the Beeper Mini app is extended to one more week, which will be reset when the patch is released.

Beeper Mini is currently broken, possibly discontinued by Apple (Update: Partially working)

Original story continues below.

Beeper Mini, the Android app that promised iMessage functionality with a unique security approach, suddenly stopped working for many users earlier today. Less than a week after its public launch, the app's seemingly seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem appears to be short-lived, raising concerns about the viability of iMessage's integration on Android in a way secure and durable.

Numerous reports on Reddit and other platforms confirm that Beeper Mini is currently unable to send or receive messages for many users. Some also report that Apple ID sign-in currently does not work if the app is reinstalled or activated on a new device. Attempting to use the application to send messages returns an error message stating “searching server failed; the search request has expired.

The reason for the outage was initially unclear. However, in a statement to TechCrunch, Eric Migicovsky, CEO of Beeper, provided more details and confirmed that it was possible that Apple had found a way to cut off the app's ability to work through the methods it was using. Furthermore, he added:

If it's Apple, then I think the bigger question is: if Apple really cares about the privacy and security of its own iPhone users, why would they try to remove a service that allows iPhones to send encrypted chats to Android users? With the announcement of RCS support, it's clear that Apple knows there's a gaping hole here. Beeper Mini is here today and working great. Why force iPhone users to send unencrypted text messages again when chatting with friends on Android?

From its launch, Beeper Mini's innovative approach stood out from other iMessage solutions on Android. Unlike its competitors, which often relied on third-party servers and questionable security practices, Beeper Mini directly reverse-engineered iMessage, allowing users to sign in with their Apple ID and phone number. This promised a secure and native experience for Android users.

However, the sudden outage of the app has cast doubt on its future. Asked by TC what today's outage means for Beeper Mini, Migicovsky said: “We will evaluate the options. » For now, the Beeper team has released an update on both Twitter/X and via a response on Reddit stating that the problem is on their side and that they are currently working on it.

The Beeper Mini outage highlights the challenges inherent in integrating iMessage on Android. Apple's closed ecosystem and proprietary protocols make it difficult for third-party developers to establish a stable and secure connection. As the holidays approach, users who use both Android and iOS devices will be closely monitoring whether Beeper Mini can overcome this obstacle and restore its functionality.