Beeper Challenges iMessage Dominance, Gets Acquired by Bigger Player

Automattic Acquires Beeper, Expanding Its Messaging Portfolio

In a recent development, Automattic, the company behind the popular content management system WordPress, has acquired the messaging app Beeper for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition comes shortly after Automattic’s $50 million purchase of another messaging app, Texts, in late 2022.

Beeper’s Innovative Approach to iOS Notifications

Prior to the acquisition, Beeper had made headlines with its innovative approach to iOS notifications. The company had reverse-engineered the way iOS notifications work, allowing messages to flow seamlessly between the Beeper app and iOS Messages. This enabled users to enjoy the coveted “blue bubble” experience, which Beeper initially offered for a monthly fee of $2.

Apple’s Response and the Ensuing Challenges

However, Apple quickly took steps to shut down Beeper Mini, citing security concerns. This forced the Beeper team to create workarounds and make the app free while they sought a solution. Despite their efforts, it became clear that Beeper Mini was not a sustainable product in the long run.

In December more than a dozen watchdog and digital rights organizations called on the Department of Justice and the Senate Judiciary Committee to “investigate Apple’s anti-competitive practices”—and cited “Beeper’s inability to offer a paid service.”

Beeper’s Symbolic Significance

Although Beeper’s user base was limited, the app served as a symbol of the challenges faced by startups attempting to compete with established tech giants. Beeper’s founder, Eric Migicovsky, remains optimistic about the acquisition and is pleased that the app wasn’t sold to a large tech company. He believes that Beeper has introduced a new perspective on anti-competitive practices and the potential for monopolies in specific market segments.

Automattic’s Interest in Open Source and Messaging

Automattic’s interest in Beeper stems from the app’s reliance on the open-source protocol, Matrix. Despite its limited user base, Beeper had managed to support more than a dozen different messaging platforms within its app, similar to Automattic’s other messaging app, Texts.

In a recent interview with TechCrunch, Automattic’s CEO, Matt Mullenweg, expressed his belief that too many technology services have become “closed” and that the pendulum is now swinging towards more open standards. While WordPress remains Automattic’s most important product, Mullenweg believes that messages could have a more significant impact than websites in the long run.

A New Chapter for Beeper

With the acquisition by Automattic, Beeper has been given a new lease on life. As part of Automattic’s broader strategy to offer more messaging features, Beeper will continue to operate under the leadership of Eric Migicovsky, who will serve as the head of the Beeper product. This acquisition marks a new chapter for Beeper and highlights the importance of open standards and innovation in the face of industry giants.