Beeper’s chat app is now obtainable to everybody

As we speak is an enormous day for Beeper, the common chat app first announced again in 2021. The corporate has confirmed that it has been acquired by Automattic, creator of WordPress. Beeper has additionally introduced the overall availability of its new app throughout all main platforms, which till now has been in beta testing beneath the Beeper Cloud name.

What Beeper is saying concerning the acquisition

“Given the state of the messaging world, we’ve lengthy felt the necessity for a robust ally with the sources to assist us on our quest. Automattic has a protracted historical past of placing consumer management and privateness first with open-source, and nice bilateral relationships with Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Matrix and others that we hope can usher in a brand new period of collaboration,” Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky stated in a press launch.

The brand new Beeper app’s declare to fame is its promise of integrating messages from throughout 14 completely different chat apps. It serves as a common messaging inbox, and it is constructed on the open-source chat protocol referred to as Matrix.

Picture from Beeper

Beeper leaves beta

With 466,000 customers getting entry, right now

The app till now has been in beta testing, with the corporate confirming a wait checklist of 466,000 customers. With it reaching normal availability, anybody can now check out the app without cost. An elective paid subscription shall be obtainable down the street that gives further perks, in response to Beeper.

By becoming a member of forces with Automattic, which has its hand in WordPress, WooCommerce, Pocket Casts and extra, each events have the acknowledged aligned purpose of ‘constructing the perfect chat app on earth.’ The whole Beeper staff shall be migrated over to Automattic, however will proceed to function as an impartial entity. Beeper CEO Migicovsky will assume the title of Automattic Head of Messaging beneath this new construction.

“It is going to take a little bit of time for us to combine and mix forces beneath the Beeper model. We’ve received large plans! I’m actually enthusiastic about the way forward for chat,” says Migicovsky.

Pocket-lint

Beeper, reborn for a brand new age

It is come full circle

Beeper first got here into the general public eye with the launch of its Beeper Mini app in late 2023. The app was profitable in bringing Apple’s iMessage service to Android customers, which stoked a fierce back-and-forth between each firms.

The service was short-lived, with Beeper lastly falling by the wayside in late January. The place Apple could have gained the battle, it may be argued that Beeper has gained the conflict — having undoubtedly contributed to the mounting antitrust pressure Apple is at the moment embroiled in.

Whereas the brand new Beeper app does not boast iMessage assist, it won’t matter that a lot. The attract of a common messaging inbox, in addition to the promise of placing an finish to the fixed juggling of texting apps, is a potent power if there’s ever been one.

The kindling has already been laid, and the brand new Beeper app would possibly simply be the spark that ushers in a brand new period of messaging. That is the hope, not less than. The brand new app is obtainable to obtain on Beeper’s website, and is appropriate throughout iOS, MacOS, Home windows, Android, ChromeOS, and Linux.

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