--- title: "Rejoice, Peasants! New App Turns Android Messages Blue in iMessage" description: "A smartphone startup called Nothing will launch Nothing Chats, a messaging service that turns green texts into blue-bubbles iMessages." date: "2023-11-16" modified: "2023-11-16" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/peasants-app-android-blue-imessage" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "android" - "messaging" - "smartphones" - "the digest" --- # Rejoice, Peasants! New App Turns Android Messages Blue in iMessage ![A smartphone startup called Nothing will launch Nothing Chats, a messaging service that turns green texts into blue-bubbles iMessages.]() *\Image: Futurism\* ## Much Ado A London-based smartphone startup dubbed Nothing — yes, just Nothing — is readying to launch an app called Nothing Chats, a messaging service that turns tragic green Android texts into blue-bubbled iMessages, [*The New York Times* reports](). Green bubble stigma exists. Those with Androids are cursed with the anxiety of ruining group chat vibes, not being able to seamlessly press the little heart and exclamation reacts on messages, and oft-wretched photo and video quality. Nothing Chats, which is powered by blue bubble-ifying tech from [Sunbird](), seeks to remedy green bubble stressors for its users — sans the need to actually succumb to the pressure of buying an iPhone, that is. "We understand that the blue bubble vs. green bubble dilemma, especially in North America — although seemingly ridiculous — is real," Carl Pei, Nothing's CEO and cofounder, told the *NYT* in a statement. "Nothing Chats allows for freedom of communication between anyone regardless of their brand of smartphone — which is how it should be." ## Nothing Per the *NYT*, Nothing Chats does have some drawbacks. Those adorable and convenient react buttons don't quite work yet, and sometimes it apparently takes several tries to successfully send a message. It's also not exactly open-invite, either: for the time being, Nothing Chats will only be available for users of Nothing's Phone (2). Yes, it's called the Phone (2). But if you're a non-Nothing Android user, you're not totally out of luck. Although the waitlist is astronomical, an open-source app called Beeper also allows Android users access to iMessage. And for the tech-savvy Android users among us who don't want to hang out in Beeper's waiting room for the foreseeable future, another open-source platform, BlueBubbles, might also be a good option. Should apps like this climb in popularity, it'll be interesting to see what action Apple takes. The folks behind Nothing Chat don't seem too worried, though. They say it's perfectly legal, and after all, according to them, they're making text**ing** better for everyone — Apple and Android users alike. "There's nothing illegal about this setup," Pei told the *NYT*, adding that the company is "so small that it will look really bad if Apple takes any action." "We don't see a scenario where Apple tries to, or can, block these messages," added Danny Mizrahi, CEO of the app developer, Sunbird. "Apple's focus has openly been on providing the best experience to their end users and both Nothing Chats and Sunbird help with that." **More on Android:** [*Android App Busted Secretly Recording Users' Lives*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()