iMessage is considered one of Apple’s biggest advantages as it locks users into the ecosystem. Because iMessage doesn’t exist on other platforms, and in many circles it’s the primary communication service, many who want to move to Android don’t, as they would lose access to chat groups and chat history. But one company claims to have developed the solution: Sunbird, an iMessage-compatible Android app.
iMessage on Android could soon become a reality
This is not the only solution of its kind, but it promises to be the simplest. Previously, there were services that gave you access to a physical device that you could link to your own Apple ID and that acted as an intermediary between your Android device and that of your callers. But now Sunbird says it has a more efficient solution.
Of course, the app still uses Apple devices in its centers, but it no longer requires one device per user and can keep thousands of customers on one device. It is unclear how this is achieved and the company is not revealing its secrets. Incidentally, this solution will not become an open source top solution.
Interestingly though, Sunbird can connect to Apple ID and receive anything you can send via iMessage. For example, you can receive replies to messages, send high-quality multimedia files, send contacts from your address book and it’s all displayed with the familiar blue dots that are characteristic of Apple’s chat service.
There is still no option to send replies to messages and message confirmations don’t work, while you can’t see when someone is writing. Sunbird is still in development, doesn’t work perfectly and some messages never get through.
Sunbird wants to launch in a free version for early adopters, after which it will pay for access to certain services, such as the ability to connect multiple chat services to the same app, such as Telegram or Signal.