Apple’s iMessage is the only non-cross-platform messaging service. It makes business sense for Apple, but it’s a disservice to mobile users everywhere. It might even push me to switch to Android.
(Image: Shutterstock) I’m a victim of Apple’s proprietary lock-in strategy. Yes, Apple makes fabulous phones with top specs and features, and most of my contacts use iPhones. This means I get all the benefits of iMessage—Memoji, great new group chat features, and the ease of switching a chat to a FaceTime video call or voice call. But if I want to dip my toes into the broader world of Android, all of those features become drawbacks. There’s been some buzz recently about iMessage coming to Android. It’s a pipe dream that Apple execs are quick to shoot down. Of course, it’s in Apple’s interest to make it as hard as possible for iPhone users to even consider moving to Android. Recent court documents in the Epic Games court battle over App Store noncompetitive practices cite emails from Apple executives that make this crystal clear. iMessage has long been the only messaging service that isn’t cross-platform: Skype, WhatsApp, as well as secure messaging services like Signal and Telegram, all work on Android, iPhone, Windows, or Mac.
