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The Apple - versus - Beeper saga is not over yet it seems , even though the iMessage - on - Android Beeper Mini wasremoved from the Play Storelast week . Now , Apple customers who used Beeper ’s apps are report that they ’ve been banish from using iMessage on their Macs — a move Apple may have taken to disable Beeper ’s apps from working properly , but ultimately penalizes its own customers for daring to examine a non - Apple solution for accessing iMessage .
The late follow a disputative game of cat - and - black eye between Apple and Beeper , whichApple ultimately win .
Beeper , a inauguration from Pebble smartwatch founderEric Migicovsky , had originally developed a messaging app collector that allow exploiter to jibe their messages from across overhaul like WhatsApp , LinkedIn , Instagram , Signal , Telegram , SMS and iMessage all in one place . That product was renamed Beeper Cloud with the launch of a new app for Android users , Beeper Mini , whichoffered access to iMessage to Android substance abuser . But the latter only found short - lived achiever , as Apple promptly cipher out how to disable Beeper Mini frombeing able-bodied to dependably redeem subject matter . Even after Beeper roll out a fix , Apple once again targeted Beeper ’s users , halt their messages .
The tech whale ’s action sooncaught the attention of lawmakers , lead a bipartisan chemical group of legislator to implore the U.S. Department of Justice to look into Apple ’s “ potential anticompetitive treatment ” of the Beeper Mini practical software .
Now , user of Beeper ’s app are complaining on public forum , includingRedditandDiscord , that Beeper ’s desktop app ( Beeper Cloud ) has led to their Mac computersno longer being ableto institutionalise and experience any iMessage texts . consort to exploiter ’ relation of theirtechsupport experience with Apple , the support reps are telling them their reckoner has beenflagged for spam , or forsending too many messages — even though that ’s not the fount , some indicate . This has led many Beeper user to believe this is how Apple is flag them for removal from the iMessage net .
One Beeper customer advised others face this trouble to ask Apple if their Mac was in a “ trammel position ” or if their Apple ID was blocked for junk e-mail to get to the tooth root of the issue . Admitting up front that third - political party software was to blame would sometimes result in the support repp being able-bodied to lift the ban , some observe .
The news of the Mac prohibition was earlier reported by Apple news program siteAppleInsiderandTimes of India , and is being debated on Y Combinator meeting place siteHacker News . On the latter , some express their belief that the retaliation against Apple ’s own users is justified as they had violated Apple ’s condition , while others say that iMessage interoperability should be managed through regulation , not rogue apps . Far fewer argued that Apple is exerting its index in an anticompetitive manner here .
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As for Apple , it originally said Beeper techniques had “ stick significant risks to user protection and privacy , including the electric potential for metadata vulnerability and enabling unwanted substance , junk e-mail , and phishing attacks . ”
Apple and Beeper have been asked for further comment . In response , Migicovsky theorized that it could be an iMessage bug cause these issues .
Beeper put an death to its attempt to continue to develop an iMessage resolution last month after releasing its latest software . Migicovskyexplained at the timethat while it believed it create something Apple could endure , it would no longer respond if Apple pink the latest build offline , and would return rather to focus on “ build the proficient chat app . ”
US lawmakers call for DOJ to enquire Apple for blocking Beeper ’s iMessage app
Beeper reverse - engineered iMessage to bring down house of cards texts to Android users
Updated , 1/16/24 11:17 am et with Beeper remark .
