Key Takeaways
- Beeper, the common chat app, has been acquired by Automattic, promising a brand new period of collaboration.
- The brand new Beeper app integrates messages from 14 totally different chat apps, and is on the market to obtain at no cost.
- Beeper, now below Automattic, envisions ‘constructing one of the best chat app on earth.’
Right now is a giant day for Beeper, the common chat app first announced again in 2021. The corporate has confirmed that it has been acquired by Automattic, creator of WordPress. Beeper has additionally introduced the final availability of its new app throughout all main platforms, which till now has been in beta testing below the Beeper Cloud name.
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Beeper releases final attempt at bringing iMessage to Android
The cat-and-mouse sport between Beeper and Apple has come to an finish.
What Beeper is saying in regards to the acquisition
“Given the state of the messaging world, we’ve lengthy felt the necessity for a powerful ally with the sources to help us on our quest. Automattic has a protracted historical past of placing consumer management and privateness first with open-source, and nice bilateral relationships with Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Matrix and others that we hope can usher in a brand new period of collaboration,” Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky stated in a press launch.
The brand new Beeper app’s declare to fame is its promise of integrating messages from throughout 14 totally different chat apps. It serves as a common messaging inbox, and it is constructed on the open-source chat protocol referred to as Matrix.
Picture from Beeper
Beeper leaves beta
With 466,000 customers getting entry, right this moment
The app till now has been in beta testing, with the corporate confirming a wait listing of 466,000 customers. With it reaching basic availability, anybody can now check out the app at no cost. An elective paid subscription shall be out there down the highway that gives further perks, in accordance with Beeper.
The complete Beeper staff shall be migrated over to Automattic, however will proceed to function as an impartial entity.
By becoming a member of forces with Automattic, which has its hand in WordPress, WooCommerce, Pocket Casts and extra, each events have the said aligned aim of ‘constructing one of the best chat app on earth.’ The complete Beeper staff shall be migrated over to Automattic, however will proceed to function as an impartial entity. Beeper CEO Migicovsky will assume the title of Automattic Head of Messaging below this new construction.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time for us to combine and mix forces below the Beeper model. We’ve received massive plans! I’m actually enthusiastic about the way forward for chat,” says Migicovsky.
Pocket-lint
Beeper, reborn for a brand new age
It is come full circle
Beeper first got here into the general public eye with the launch of its Beeper Mini app in late 2023. The app was profitable in bringing Apple’s iMessage service to Android customers, which stoked a fierce back-and-forth between each firms.
The service was short-lived, with Beeper lastly chucking up the sponge in late January. The place Apple could have gained the battle, it may be argued that Beeper has gained the warfare — having undoubtedly contributed to the mounting antitrust pressure Apple is presently embroiled in.
Whereas the brand new Beeper app would not boast iMessage help, it won’t matter that a lot. The attract of a common messaging inbox, in addition to the promise of placing an finish to the fixed juggling of texting apps, is a potent power if there’s ever been one.
The kindling has already been laid, and the brand new Beeper app may simply be the spark that ushers in a brand new period of messaging. That is the hope, no less than. The brand new app is on the market to obtain on Beeper’s website, and is suitable throughout iOS, MacOS, Home windows, Android, ChromeOS, and Linux.
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