Beeper's recent acquisition by Automattic signifies a pivotal moment for the future of messaging.
In contrast to dwelling on trivial matters like message bubble colors, the partnership between these two companies is focused on advocating for a more open and inclusive future in messaging.
Beeper Mini lasted for a while before completely shutting down the app this week. Some users are reportedly blocked from using iMessage. (Photo: Beeper)
Embracing Open Messaging
Automattic, the company behind popular platforms like Wordpress.com and Tumblr, recently completed the acquisition of Beeper, an innovative messaging app.
This acquisition signals a departure from the typical rivalry seen in the tech industry, as both companies aim to champion a more open approach to messaging.
As finalized last week and officially announced Tuesday, The Verge reported that the deal marks a significant milestone for Beeper. In conjunction with the acquisition news, Beeper has made its app available to all users across various platforms, effectively closing its waitlist for good.
The acquisition holds a compelling backstory, particularly for Beeper. Just months before the acquisition, Beeper introduced Beeper Mini, an app designed to enable Android users to access the iMessage protocol and appear as blue bubbles in Apple's Messages app.
This move sparked a conflict with Apple, resulting in a back-and-forth struggle between the two companies. Ultimately, Beeper abandoned its efforts, a move that now features prominently in an antitrust complaint against Apple.
More Sustainable Path Towards Its Vision
Eric Migicovsky, CEO of Beeper, emphasizes that the acquisition's timing should not be viewed as a concession of failure. Instead, Migicovsky explains that this strategic move represents Beeper's commitment to finding a more sustainable path toward its vision.
For Beeper, the ultimate goal has always been to create a unified messaging platform that prioritizes people over platforms. Reflecting on the challenges of developing such a system over three and a half years, Migicovsky emphasizes the importance of aligning with trustworthy partners in the industry.
In this context, Automattic emerges as a natural fit, given its strong advocacy for open software and its reputation for responsibly managing acquisitions. Migicovsky sees Automattic as the ideal destination for Beeper's journey.
Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has long touted messaging as the next cornerstone for the company's expansion. While Automattic currently oversees a significant portion of websites through WordPress projects and holds sway in online retail with WooCommerce, Mullenweg perceives messaging as an equally substantial opportunity.
Last fall, he articulated his vision, emphasizing that messaging represents a crucial aspect of human interaction. According to Mullenweg, ensuring private, free, encrypted, and open-source communication aligns with fundamental human rights.
Moving forward, Migicovsky assumes the role of Automattic's head of messaging, while the integrated Texts and Beeper team will focus on advancing Beeper.
Their immediate task involves preparing the app for the 450,000 individuals on the Beeper waitlist, now accessible to all interested users.
Additionally, efforts are underway to ensure uniformity in the app's enhanced security features across all Beeper platforms, with Android currently leading the implementation.
Migicovsky acknowledges the substantial workload ahead but expresses enthusiasm for the forthcoming challenges.
