‘Nothing’ is bringing iMessage to Android

(Nov. 18: Article updated to include Nothing chat’s removal from the Play Store. See end of post)

Since Apple has no plans of bringing iMessage to Android any time soon, there have been several attempts at creating iMessage clients for Android users.

One of such projects is Sunbird – a service whose goal is to launch a functional iMessage for Android apps.

Unlike previous attempts that required complicated setups, Sunbird promises a straightforward process for integrating iMessage on your Android device. 

Sunbird generated a lot of buzz but most of that died down possibly from potential legal implications of launching an unofficial iMessage client.

Surprisingly, Sunbird has re-emerged, this time in collaboration with Nothing, introducing Nothing chats – an approach to bring iMessage to Android through the Nothing Phone (2).

Nothing chats

Leveraging Sunbird’s technology, Nothing Chats promises the iMessage experience on Android, complete with the iconic transition of green bubbles to blue, group chat support, live typing indicators, high-quality media sharing, and voice notes.

Users are required to log in to Nothing Chats using their Apple ID, with assurances that this sensitive information remains secure due to end-to-end encryption. 

Privacy and security are paramount concerns, and Nothing has stated its commitment to safeguarding user data within this integration.

Beta Release

The beta version of Nothing Chats is currently accessible via Google Play for users in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and select European countries. This early release provides an opportunity for users to explore the app’s features and offer feedback for further improvement.

Update: Nothing has removed the Nothing Chats beta from the Google Play store, stating that it is delaying the launch until further notice to address several bugs.

This decision came soon after posts from members of Texts.com (an all-in-one messaging service) revealing that messages sent using Sunbird’s system are not truly end-to-end encrypted.