Upcoming Nothing Chats: Everything You Need to Know
Apple’s closed ecosystem, particularly with iMessage, has been a source of frustration for many, including Google, which has advocated for the adoption of RCS (Rich Communication Services) by Apple. Despite the pressure, Apple has not shown any inclination to change its stance. Nothing, the startup founded by former OnePlus executive Carl Pei, appears to be taking matters into its own hands.
All About the Nothing Chats
The company has introduced Nothing Chats, a new app designed to make its upcoming Phone 2 not only compatible with iMessage but also equipped with additional Apple-exclusive features. The app aims to transform green bubbles into blue, mirroring the iMessage experience, and includes features such as read receipts, voice notes, and full-resolution photo sharing. RCS support is also part of the package.
While other developers, such as Sunbird, have claimed to enable iMessage on Android through an app, Nothing Chats distinguishes itself by integrating Sunbird’s technology into an in-house-designed app.
The process, however, is not as straightforward as it may seem. When users initially log into Nothing Chats with their Apple ID, the credentials are encrypted and stored on remote Mac Minis operated by Sunbird in North America and Europe. While this addresses the login aspect, the full mechanics of the process remain undisclosed. It appears that the connection between the Android device and the Apple system is facilitated through the use of Mac Minis. However, the exact mechanism by which these Apple devices manage potentially thousands of text messages and Apple IDs concurrently remains unclear.
Despite the seemingly intricate process, concerns about security and scalability linger. There’s a potential risk of Apple blocking Sunbird or taking legal action against Nothing. Unlike a smaller app developer like Sunbird, Nothing is a more prominent player, making it less likely to be overlooked by Apple.
In response to security concerns, Nothing has provided some assurance. According to a spokesperson, once users log in to the Chats app for the first time using their Apple ID, the credentials are tokenized and stored in an encrypted database associated with Sunbird’s Mac Minis. This creates an encrypted relay for iMessages sent through the app, with the relay being locked and inaccessible even to Sunbird or anyone else with access to the physical server. The spokesperson also mentioned that Sunbird is working towards ISO 27001 certification for information security compliance.
Nothing Chats is set to be available on the Google Play Store starting November 17 in the US, Canada, UK, and EU, with a future release in India. Whether Nothing’s innovative approach will succeed or provoke Apple’s response remains to be seen.
