Nov 20, 2023 11:00:00

``Nothing Chats'', which allows you to use iMessage functions with a blue speech bubble on Android, will be removed from Google Play

Nothing, which sells skeleton smartphones such as

the Phone (1) , has removed its chat app, Nothing Chats, from Google Play. This app was supposed to support Apple's ``iMessage'' on the Android OS smartphone ``Phone (2)'', but users pointed out that there were serious security issues.

Nothing Chats has already been pulled from Google Play over privacy issues - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/18/23966781/nothing-chats-imessage-unencrypted-sunbird-plaintext

Nothing Chats, an iMessage app for Android, is a privacy nightmare
https://9to5google.com/2023/11/18/nothing-chats-sunbird-unencrypted-data-privacy-nightmare/

Google is working to unify the standard by introducing a messaging standard called `

`Rich Communication Service (RCS)' ' that uses phone numbers as an alternative to Short Message Service (SMS) , but Apple's messaging app ``iMessage'' is using RCS. is not supported, causing problems in sending messages between different operating systems.

Unable to see the current situation, Nothing released the ``Nothing Chats'' app with the desire to ``break down the barriers between devices.'' This app allows you to send messages between Phone 2 and iPhone using the system of Sunbird Messaging, an app that allows you to use iMessage on Android devices, and will be in beta from around November 17, 2023. had been released. However, it turns out that this app has security issues.

According to software developers Kishan Bagaria , Dylan Roussel , and others, Sunbird Messaging doesn't even use HTTPS and sends credentials in clear text, chats are not end-to-end encrypted, and Nothing Chats and Sunbird All texts, images, sounds, etc. sent through Messaging are available for viewing by anyone.

In response to this complaint, Nothing announced that it would remove the app from Google Play and work with Sunbird to fix some bugs.

We've removed the Nothing Chats beta from the Play Store and will be delaying the launch until further notice to work with Sunbird to fix several bugs.

We apologise for the delay and will do right by our users.

— Nothing (@nothing) November 18, 2023

In addition, Apple has stated that it will make the iPhone compatible with RCS in 2024, so in the future it will be possible to exchange text and media between Android and iPhone via phone number without using a special app.

Apple announces that it will adopt RCS from 2024, making it possible to send and receive text message read notifications and high-resolution photos and videos between iPhone and Android - GIGAZINE