Will Apple ever bring iMessage to Android?

Unlike Apple Music and Apple TV, which are available for Android devices, iMessage may never be brought to Android devices by Apple.

Every iPhone user is familiar with blue versus green chat bubbles. When you send a message to someone and the response has a green bubble, you'll immediately know the person on the other end of the line doesn't use Apple devices.

This means that the conversation will be limited to text and low-quality images or videos thanks to MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services). This is a multimedia messaging option that allows users to send text messages that combine images and sounds between phone numbers. Therefore, there is a lot of pressure on Apple to bring iMessage to Android devices. But does Apple plan to bring iMessage to Android devices? Let's find out in the article below.

What is iMessage?

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Apple introduced the iMessage messaging service in 2011 and brought it to the Messages app on the iPhone. iMessage requires internet to use and will help users text for free but only between iPhone users. This service is free when used over Wi-Fi, but if used over the network's Internet, you will lose usage capacity.

It allows users to send text, videos, and images with end-to-end encryption. iMessage can notify the sender as read, including input notifications and various message effects. So it's quite similar to WhatsApp and current messaging apps.

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When an iPhone user sends a message to an Android smartphone user, the iMessage app will switch to SMS. And when an Android user replies, their text will show up as a green bubble to let the recipient know that it's not an iPhone, iPad, or Mac user.

Why isn't iMessage available on Android?

Bringing iMessage to Android is actually not difficult. If Apple wanted, it could deploy iMessage on CHPlay as a downloadable app, just like Zalo, WhatsApp or Telegram.

However, Apple did not do so, they deliberately prevented the introduction of iMessage to Android in order to create a closed ecosystem that operates like a 'walled garden'. And it also helps Apple attract users to buy iPhone rather than Android.

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Therefore, if you do not own an Apple device, you will not be able to enjoy Apple's services. While you still have exceptions like Apple Music and Apple TV, iMessage is unfortunately not one of them.

Jessica Tanner

Update 17 October 2023