Nothing Phone (2): A Potential Fix for the Blue and Green Bubble Debate

The age-old rivalry between iPhone‘s blue bubble and Android‘s green bubble may require regulatory intervention in the near future, but Nothing has an alternative solution on the horizon.

Introducing Nothing Chats

Nothing Chats, an upcoming messaging app for the Nothing Phone (2), allows Android users to trade their green bubbles for the sleek blue bubble synonymous with Apple. Developed by Sunbird, the app requires users to sign in with their Apple ID or create a new account. Once set up, they can send messages on Nothing Chats in a manner similar to iMessage while using their Android device. At launch, features like live typing indicators, full-resolution media sharing, and voice notes will be available, with read receipts and message reactions coming later, as revealed in a video featuring Nothing CEO Carl Pei released on Tuesday.

The Catch and Security Concerns

However, there is a catch. Nothing Chats requires users to log into their Apple ID accounts on what is essentially an Apple device via a remote connection. According to the Nothing Chats FAQ, messages sent have end-to-end encryption that neither Nothing nor Sunbird can access, and login credentials are not stored on Sunbird’s servers. The true level of security once launched remains unclear.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Nothing Chats.

Availability and Nothing Phone (2)

Nothing Chats launches on the Google Play Store Friday for Nothing Phone (2) owners in the U.S., Canada, UK, and EU. The app is currently in its beta phase.

The Nothing Phone (2), launched in July, starts at $599. Pei, the co-founder of OnePlus, founded Nothing in 2021. Nothing Phones are Android phones with innovative designs that offer a lot of features for less than the flagship phones from Google, Samsung, and Apple.