WordPress parent acquires Beeper app which brought iMessage to Android
Automattic, the parent company of WordPress and Tumblr, has acquired Beeper, the software company that offered iMessage experience on Android through Beeper Mini app. The acquisition was officially confirmed on Tuesday after the deal was completed last week. Alongside this announcement, Beeper revealed plans to make its app accessible to all users across platforms, thereby eliminating its current waitlist.
Beeper's new app sparked controversy with Apple
Beeper Mini, introduced last year, allowed Android users to use Apple's iMessage protocol. However, it was met with objections from Apple, leading to a disagreement that resulted in Beeper discontinuing the feature. The dispute has now become a significant part of an anti-trust complaint against Apple.
Beeper CEO views acquisition as opportunity, not failure
Eric Migicovsky, the CEO of Beeper, has stated that the acquisition by Automattic is not a sign of failure but an opportunity for growth. He believes it will help Beeper realize its vision of creating a unified messaging app in a more sustainable way. "Having worked on this for three and a half years," he says, "we've realized we need to know who our friends are in this game."
Automattic CEO advocates for open-source communication
Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Automattic, has long believed that messaging is a crucial component for his company's future. He sees messaging as integral to human communication and supports private, free, encrypted, open-source communication as a fundamental human right. This vision was evident last October when Automattic acquired Texts, another comprehensive messaging app and direct competitor to Beeper.
Migicovsky to head messaging at Automattic
Following the acquisition, Migicovsky will take on the role of Automattic's head of messaging. The combined teams from Texts and Beeper will focus their efforts on enhancing Beeper. Their initial task is to prepare the app for the 450,000 people currently on the Beeper waitlist. They also plan to develop a more secure version of the app for all of Beeper's platforms.