Hi there --

Blue bubble? Or green bubble?

We’ve all been there — struggling to send messages between an iPhone and Android phone. But Apple has made this difficult on purpose to protect their iMessage monopoly.

So, when a 16-year-old recently found a way for Android users to securely send iMessages through an app called Beeper Mini, it became wildly popular with 100,000 downloads in just 48 hours. But Apple moved quickly to hamper the app. [1]

Sign our petition calling on Apple CEO Tim Cook to allow Android phones to send secure, encrypted, blue bubble text messages to iPhones.

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This is not the first time that Apple has obstructed one of their competitors. Before there were AirTags, Tile made Bluetooth location tracking devices for keys, wallets, and more. Tile accused Apple of anti-competitive behavior for not just the similarity in products, but also for designing the software to favor its own location-tracking technology on iPhones – even for Tile users. [2]

Apple impeding Beeper Mini is just the tech giant’s latest attempt to stifle competition – adding to the long list of unfair and anti-competitive actions that has both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) preparing to take action against the corporation. [3] [4] Apple is pulling right from the Big Tech playbook to protect their huge profit margins by squeezing out, copying, or buying out any potential competition.

As Senator Elizabeth Warren said in response to the Beeper Mini news, “Green bubble texts are less secure. So why would Apple block a new app allowing Android users to chat with iPhone users on iMessage? Big Tech executives are protecting profits by squashing competitors. Chatting between different platforms should be easy and secure.” [5]

We couldn’t agree more. Sign our petition today and ask Apple to stop blocking Beeper Mini and let their users text securely with Android users.

We can’t afford to let Big Tech monopolies off the hook.

Thank you for speaking out,

Nicole Gill
Co-founder and Executive Director
Accountable Tech

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Tech Crunch: Beeper Mini is back in operation after Apple’s attempt to shut it down
VOX: Why Apple’s latest gadget is catching the attention of antitrust regulator
Politico: Apple faces growing likelihood of DOJ antitrust suit
9to5Mac: Department of Justice investigating Apple blocking Beeper; FTC too
Senator Warren tweet: December 10th, 2023