Juggling between different messenger applications is a hassle no matter whether you’re on your desktop or on your phone. In an effort to simplify this, now-defunct Pebble smartwatch founder Eric Migicovsky has introduced a new platform known as Beeper (formerly named as Novachat) that unifies 15 different private messengers into just one app.
But before we go on about the features offered by Beeper, we have to mention that it does come with a catch. In order to enjoy using the app, users are required to subscribe to the platform at a cost of US$10 (~RM40) a month.
New app alert: I've been working on Beeper for a while and today we're launching! It's a single app to chat on iMessage, WhatsApp, and 13 other networks. Been using it as my default chat client for the last 2 years and there is NO going back. Check it out https://t.co/vjAtnYvdhS pic.twitter.com/rJ39rPFixb
— Eric Migicovsky (@ericmigi) January 20, 2021
As mentioned earlier, the newly introduced platform supports 15 messengers including Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, Discord, Slack, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Skype, Signal, IRC, Twitter DMs and even Apple iMessage. According to its website, the developers are planning to add new chat networks every week, therefore constantly increasing the number of supported chat platforms.
All of the messages from the multiple supported platforms are connected to the app via an open source federated messaging protocol known as Matrix. Each respective messenger feeds its messages into a single location, which can be responded from Beeper. The app labels each chat with their respective platform icons for easy identification, and also provides users with the ability to search through every single one of their messages.
Beeper’s privacy page on its website did not mention any form of encryption based messaging, but Matrix claims that all of its information is end-to-end encrypted. Which, by right, should apply to all of the messages sent through the app. The 15-in-one messaging platform is available on MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, which is obtainable via the app’s official website.
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Even though Beeper allows its subscribers to use iMessage on non-Apple devices, the process of enabling this is not so straightforward. Migicovsky and the app’s website explain that there are two approaches to achieve this for those who own a Mac and for those who don’t. For those who own a Mac device, they are required to the Beeper app installed and have their machines connected to the internet 24/7 to forward messages via the app.
The approach for non-Mac users is questionable at best. In order to use the Apple-exclusive messenger on Beeper, the website says that the company will provide each user a jailbroken iPhone with the app installed, which acts as a bridge to iMessage. In a tweet reply, Magicovsky says that he currently has 50 old iPhone 4S models at his desk, ready to be upcycled for use with Beeper. It was not explained if users are required to pay for the phones, and what the founder plans to do if all 50 iPhones are already claimed.
— Eric Migicovsky (@ericmigi) January 20, 2021
Unless you’re really in need of a unified platform to keep track of all of your private messages, subscribing to Beeper at US$10 per month would probably be worth your while. But realistically, you won’t be missing much at all if you do decide to stick with navigating through each and every messenger separately – which is free to begin with.
(Source: Beeper [Official website] / Eric Migicovsky via 9to5Google)
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