Pebble founder launches Beeper, a universal chat app that works with iMessage and others – TechCrunch

A long time in the past, a software program program referred to as Trillian launched a method for web customers to work together with a number of IM networks, like ICQ, AIM and MSN Messenger, in a single window. Now, Pebble founder and Y Combinator Companion Eric Migicovsky is revisiting this idea, however this time with a give attention to centralizing entry to modern-day chat functions. By the newly launched app, Beeper, customers can join with 15 totally different messaging companies, together with WhatsApp, Telegram, Sign, Instagram and Twitter DMs, Messenger, Skype, Hangouts and others — even, by means of a couple of methods, iMessage.

Migicovsky says he first got here up with the thought for a common chat app whereas engaged on the smartwatch pioneer Pebble, earlier than its acquisition by Fitbit.

“We actually needed Pebble to have the ability to ship iMessages, however we might by no means work out a solution to do it as a result of there’s no API for iMessage,” he explains. However the thought for Beeper got here to a head two years in the past when he realized a couple of protocol referred to as Matrix. “All of Beeper is constructed on high of Matrix, which is that this open-source federated, encrypted messaging protocol,” he says.

Migicovsky describes Matrix as principally “a hacker factor,” however believes it’s beginning to take off amongst builders. Mainly, Matrix provides an API that permits builders to attach with different chat networks utilizing a “bridge,” which relays the messages forwards and backwards from one aspect to a different.

“After I realized about that, I used to be like ‘Hey, we might construct Trillion utilizing Matrix,’” Migicovsky says.

Migicovsky started to work on Beeper as a aspect venture with Tulir Asokan, a Matrix contributor he met in a Matrix chat room.

To make Beeper (beforehand referred to as Nova) work with all of the totally different chat apps, they needed to construct these connecting “bridges.” This code can also be open-sourced and obtainable at Gitlab.com/Nova.

“We expect it’s actually vital for folks to know what code they’re working — so it’s all open supply. Folks can examine it,” notes Migicovsky.

Due to this, folks additionally don’t need to pay Beeper the $10 per thirty days it’s charging for entry to the service. In the event that they know what they’re doing, they’ll simply run the bridges on their very own servers, in the event that they select.

Whereas each messaging platform has its personal distinctive setup in Beeper, making iMessage work was essentially the most sophisticated. And the workaround right here is considerably concerned, to place it mildly.

Beeper really ships its customers an previous, jailbroken iPhone (iPhone 4S, as a result of it’s low-cost) to function the bridge. The code put in on the iPhone reads and writes to the database file the place your iMessages are saved. The iPhone encrypts the messages with your personal personal key after which sends it over the Beeper community. This implies Beeper, the corporate, can’t learn your messages, Migicovsky says.

This course of permits Android, Home windows and Linux customers to make use of iMessage. However it’s not the one method Beeper could make iMessages work. Mac customers with an always-on gadget can as an alternative select to put in a Beeper Mac app to work because the bridge.

Migicovsky says he’s not afraid of any shutdown makes an attempt or litigation by Apple.

“What are they going to do?,” he asks, rhetorically.

Even when Apple in some way stopped Beeper from offering jailbroken iPhones to customers, the corporate might redirect their clients to accumulate their very own previous iPhones from Craigslist as an alternative. In the meantime, the software program itself is open supply and working on an iPhone on the consumer’s home — so Beeper isn’t actually “hacking” into iMessage itself.

“I feel given the present local weather of messaging freedom — I feel it will be insane for Apple to begin selecting a combat with their very own customers,” Migicovsky provides. Plus, he notes that the European Fee is working on draft laws much like the GDPR that mandates all corporations to open up messaging for different platforms.

“When that passes, they legally received’t have the ability to block folks from doing one thing like Beeper,” Migicovsky notes.

Picture Credit: Beeper

Beeper, in fact, shouldn’t be the primary or solely startup centered on making an attempt to interrupt by means of the iMessage lockdown. Different apps have tried to do that previously, like AirMessage or weMessage, for instance. They’ve solely seen restricted adoption, nevertheless. And Beeper shouldn’t be the one startup to attempt to centralize chat functions, both — Texts.com is growing an identical system.

That stated, signups for Beeper have been greater than Migicovsky anticipated, he says, although declined to share the small print. He says Beeper is slowly onboarding customers because of this. (For that cause, we now have not been capable of really use Beeper. We are able to’t communicate to its claims or usability.)

Regardless of the competitors, the place Beeper might have a bonus is in understanding what makes for a fantastic consumer expertise. Pebble, in any case, sold over 2 million watches.

Right now, Beeper guarantees options like search, snoozing, archiving, and reminders, and works throughout MacOS, Home windows, Linux‍, iOS and Android.

Long run, Migicovsky envisions a platform that might do extra than simply textual content and share media, stickers and emoji, like different chat apps. As an alternative, the staff is constructing a platform that may enable folks to construct extra instruments and apps on high of Beeper — a system type of like Gmail’s plugins. For instance, there may very well be instruments that may let customers schedule calendar occasions from inside their chats. Or maybe a device might enable you see all the newest messages you’ve had with a selected consumer throughout totally different platforms, like Clearbit.

Migicovsky declined additionally to element how the work on Beeper is being financed however when requested if Beeper may very well be the following step for him — as in, a brand new firm to work on — he replied, “probably.”

“I’m having fun with my time at YC. It’s unbelievable. I used to be simply impressed by all the businesses that I work with to do that. A part of being VC is speaking to all these founders who’re constructing cool stuff and launching it. And I acquired a bit of bit jealous,” he admits.