Developer claims to release iMessage app for Android in spring 2017

A developer online called moomanjohnny has created a working iMessage app for Android. The app, which requires a connection to an iPhone or Mac, will be released in spring 2017.

The developer writes on Reddit that the app uses hidden iMessage APIs in macOS or iOS and has support for notifications that the other person is typing, that the messages have been received, for group conversations, photos, videos, iOS 10 animations and other functions.

In a video, the developer shows how the app runs on a computer with Android variant RemixOS installed. The app relies on a server application that must run on iOS or OSX. The developer suggests using an old iPhone or Mac Mini for this. The iOS version of the server requires the device to be jailbroken.

The app is not yet available, but the developer has on Twitter said that people can sign up for a public beta through a Google Docs form. From this he will choose 25 random people who can participate.

It’s not the first time a developer has made iMessage work on Android. Earlier that worked with another app, but it was removed from the Play Store shortly after its release. There were questions about the app, as it had access to the Apple ID, password, and all communications from users, as it worked with a Chinese server that presented itself as Mac Mini to enable the functionality.