● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsLow impact3 neutral
Sunbird Relaunches iMessage App for Android on Google Play Store
Key points
- Sunbird iMessage app for Android is now available on Google Play Store.
- The app offers iMessage features like blue bubbles and reactions.
- It relaunches after a three-year hiatus due to security concerns.
- Sunbird claims to have addressed previous security vulnerabilities.
- The service costs $2.99 per month.
Sunbird Returns to Google Play Store
The Sunbird iMessage for Android application has been relaunched on the Google Play Store, making it publicly available. This release follows an extended beta period and a significant hiatus since its previous shutdown in 2023.
The app's primary function is to enable Android users to access iMessage features, including the distinctive blue chat bubbles, reactions, and high-quality video sharing, directly from their Android devices. This is offered for a monthly fee of $2.99.
Addressing Past Security Concerns
Sunbird had previously ceased operations in 2023 due to security vulnerabilities. The company states that it has since addressed these flaws and rebuilt its backend infrastructure. An independent firm has reportedly audited the rebuilt application.
According to Sunbird, messages are protected in transit and released upon delivery. Media sent or received is deleted typically within 48 hours, and never longer than 72 hours. Messages are encrypted on the device before transmission, encrypted in transit over certificate-pinned connections, and encrypted at rest on the device using AES-256 encryption. The final leg to an iPhone is protected by Apple’s iMessage end-to-end encryption.
Features and Cross-Platform Messaging
The Sunbird app allows Android users to send and receive iMessages without needing an iPhone. It also combines RCS messaging with Apple's service to offer a more universal experience. New features include a priority inbox for a decluttered messaging experience.
While Apple adopted the Rich Communications Services (RCS) protocol in 2024, improving cross-platform messaging with features like typing indicators, read receipts, and high-resolution media for Android users, the chat bubbles for Android users still appear green in iMessage. Sunbird aims to provide the blue chat bubbles for Android users texting iPhones.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
The Sunbird messaging app, which enables Android users to participate in iMessage chats, has returned to the Google Play Store three years after its removal due to privacy concerns. The app aims to provide blue chat bubbles for Android users texting iPhones, despite Apple's adoption of RCS which improved cross-platform messaging features.
Sunbird Messaging has relaunched its iMessage app for Android users on the Google Play Store, offering iMessage features like reactions and high-quality video for a monthly fee. The company states it has addressed previous security vulnerabilities that led to its shutdown three years ago, with an independent firm auditing the rebuilt app.
Sunbird has released its iMessage for Android application on the Google Play Store, making it publicly available after an extended beta period. The app aims to provide iMessage functionality to Android users, despite previous security concerns that led to a temporary shutdown in 2023.