There is no word on whether there will ever be Android smartphones compatible with Apple’s iMessage platform. However, there are hints Apple considered opening the messaging service beyond it’s own proprietary use.
John Gruber of Daring Fireball recently shared some pretty official-looking mockup images, which supposedly come directly from Apple and show the company’s software on both an iPhone and a Samsung smartphone.
iPhone_News: Rumor: Apple has made mockups of iMessage for Android with 'Material Design' https://t.co/pOukMUxNHU pic.twitter.com/SAXO4LGjd5
— Himanshu Jain (@HimanshuEgov) October 25, 2016
Apparently it is a thing that Apple users shame Android users when green text bubbles appear within iMessage. As per the mockups, with Android compatibility, iMessage would present blue text bubbles for all.
However, iMessage for Android is a long standing rumor, which has yet to come into fruition. Rumors that the compatibility would be announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June came and went with no unveiling.
There has been considerable effort in the reverse. Several Android manufacturers offer iOS compatibility with products, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. However, Apple has only yielded in the last year, when it established Android compatibility for Apple Music. Perhaps that can be taken as a sign that Apple is yielding to playing with the expansive Android crowd. However, nothing has been confirmed from the Cupertino tech giant.
These rumors have surfaced just days prior to Apple’s latest launch event. However, the Oct. 27 keynote is expected to focus on MacBook upgrades.
