Nothing Chats, the new messaging app from British smartphone manufacturer Nothing, will be launching next Friday. What sets it apart from other messaging apps is the ability to send “iMessages” to iPhone owners
the new messaging app from Nothing, will allow you to send messages to your friends on iPhones in a way that makes it look like they’re coming from another Apple device. This is because Nothing partnered with Sunbird, a company that has been working on a way to connect iPhones and Android devices in a way that bypasses Apple’s restrictions
iMessage exclusivity poses a real problem
Apple’s iMessage platform is really popular in the US, especially among teenagers. Some people might be hesitant to switch to an Android phone because they don’t want to lose the blue bubble effect that iMessage gives to messages from other Apple devices
Google tried to convince Apple to open up its iMessage platform to other devices, like Android phones. Google even went to the European Commission to make its case, but Apple has always refused to do so. Apple wants to keep iMessage exclusive to its own devices, like iPhones, to encourage people to buy them
While iMessage is popular in Europe, there are fewer users who rely solely on it. This means that those who switch to Android smartphones can now communicate with their friends who use iMessage without any issues. So, if you’re considering trying an Android phone, you can do so without worrying about being excluded from your groups of friends on iMessage
How to use Nothing Chats?
If you want to use Nothing Chats, you’ll need to get your hands on the Nothing Phone 2 first. Unfortunately, this app won’t be compatible with the original Nothing Phone 1 or any other Android devices at launch.
Once you download the app, you’ll need to sign in with an Apple ID username and password or create a new one if you don’t already have one. Nothing Chats explains that this information is securely encoded by Sunbird and used to establish a connection with iMessage, after which it’s destroyed. This process is different from using the Sign in with Apple feature on other websites, which allows you to create an account using your Apple ID but doesn’t require you to provide sensitive information or passwords
The Nothing Chats interface is similar to iMessage and offers many of the same features, such as seeing when the other person is typing and sharing uncompressed media. You can also participate in group chats and send voice notes. Plus, Nothing plans to add even more features in the future, like message receipts and reactions using emojis. So, you’ll have a familiar and feature-rich messaging experience
Nothing Chats raises security questions
According to Nothing’s FAQ, Sunbird’s architecture allows for the secure and private transfer of messages between users without storing them on its servers at any point during their journey. This means that your messages are kept confidential and are not stored on the company’s servers, providing an added layer of security and privacy for your online communications
When you use Sunbird, your Apple account connects to a secure Mac mini in a data center. This Mac mini acts as a relay, sending your messages to your recipient. To store your iCloud credentials securely, Sunbird uses an encrypted database. This ensures that your personal information remains protected and private.
I understand your concern about the security of your iCloud account when using Chats. It’s important to note that granting access to your iCloud account can be risky, as you don’t know who may have access to the computer or device through which your data passes. This could potentially compromise the security of your personal information.
