Breaking through the green bubble barriers, British tech company Nothing announced that its Phone 2 users will soon be able to send blue bubbles to iPhones thanks to a new app.
Blue bubbles on Phone (2).
— Nothing (@nothing) November 14, 2023
Introducing Nothing Chats. A new messaging solution for Android.
Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/5PLl7ByLFm
Nothing Chats, powered by the messaging platform Sunbird, will be available to Nothing Phone 2 users in North America, the EU, and other European countries beginning November 17.
Nothing CEO Carl Pei notes in a video that at release, the app will support individual and group chats, including the visual cue for when iMessage users are typing a message, in addition to support for full-size media sharing and voice notes. More notable iMessage features, such as replies and message reactions, will be added later.
Potential Privacy Concerns
However, it is important to note that if Nothing Phone 2 users want to use the app, you will need to give it access to your iCloud account (or make one) to use Nothing Chats.
This can pose a privacy issue for some, despite Nothing touting that Sunbird will not only store messages on its servers, but its "architecture provides a system to deliver a message from one user to another without ever storing it at any point in its journey." Phone 2 users who are cautiously optimistic about the app and its requirements should read Sunbird's privacy policy before deciding.
"We believe in windows, not walls," Nothing wrote on its website. "If messaging services divide phone users, then we want to break those barriers down."
The announcement is huge for the smartphone market as iMessage has been exclusive to Apple's smartphones. Nothing Chats would make Nothing the first Android OEM to integrate the messaging service into a device that is not an iPhone.
Apple did not immediately respond to IGN's request for comment.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
