Two reasons: Apple explains why they did not launch iMessage for Android
The whole of last week was spent with rumours, speculations and claims that Apple will announce iMessage for Android users. Apple users are well equipped with iMessage, a secure messaging platform that iPhone users enjoy as compared to WhatsApp and Telegram on Android. Billions of people around the world have adapted to WhatsApp, which is easy to use, completely free, secure and available for all smartphone platforms. The news about Apple targeting WhatsApp by planning the release of iMessage for Android smartphones was causing an anxiety in the smartphone world. If it was true, iMessage could have changed the way people communicated in future. However, there are still hopes that Apple will bring the iMessage to Android users.
iMessage is one of the most secure voice and video chatting application that is deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. Every iPhone and iPad user can use the messaging platform to communicate and it has been there since a long time. It is secure, fast and very easy to use. Bringing iMessage to Android would probably be a good move for Apple. However, market researchers say that Apple could be in trouble if they just did that. Just like a double-edged sword, releasing iMessage for Android could be a plus as well as a problem for Apple.
By allowing iMessage to Android users, Apple could target the Android platform and grow higher in the services industry, thus making better profits. However, if they do so, they could also push off much of Android users who could opt for an iPhone in future. However, by offering high encryption (End-to-End), similar to WhatsApp and Telegram, iMessage could emerge a topper and offer secure and guaranteed private messaging, where the recent FBI-Apple case stands as a witness.
Presently, BBM is also favoured as one of the top-most secure messaging platforms, but due to its low adoption figures, BBM is suffering. With iMessage possibility on Android, users could switch instantly since it features higher capabilities as compared to WhatsApp, video calling being one of the main reason.
But the WWDC keynote event by Apple did not reveal anything for Android. Apple updated the iMessage messenger with an update which now has a music share function, Digital Touch keypad through to share sketches or your heartbeat, and full screen effects that take over the backdrop of the messaging screen. Additionally, bubble effects will now let you send messages that appear more slowly, or need to be swiped to be revealed. Lastly, you can also now search for pictures within the keypad itself, just like in Facebook's Messenger, and also with the live camera.
A report by The Verge reveals why Apple did not give Android iMessage. In a short interview by tech journalist Walt Mossberg with a senior Apple executive after the WWDC event, he revealed the following statement.
‘When I asked a senior Apple executive why iMessage wasn’t being expanded to other platforms, he gave two answers. First, he said, Apple considers its own user base of 1 billion active devices to provide a large enough data set for any possible AI learning the company is working on. And, second, having a superior messaging platform that only worked on Apple devices would help sales of those devices — the company’s classic (and successful) rationale for years.’
