Apple Said to Announce iMessage for Android at WWDC [Rumour]

Will iMessage make its way to Android? According to an unnamed source speaking to Mac Daily News, Apple will make the announcement at WWDC next week:

Apple will announce that iMessage encrypted text messaging is coming to Android users at WWDC next Monday at WWDC 2016, according to a source familiar with the company’s thinking.

The source claims plans are “constantly in flux” leading up to keynotes and the timing could change, but iMessage would “definitely” be making its debut on Android in 2016.

It would not be uncommon for Apple to bring another app to Android users, as the company already has one app available in the Google Play Store—Apple Music.

This would result in iOS and Android users being able to communicate via iMessage, and benefit from the platform’s end-to-end encryption. However, iMessage is an Apple device exclusive service, and expanding the platform beyond iOS could prevent Android users from switching to an iPhone.

Earlier this year, one developer created the prototype PieMessage, an open source project which enabled Android users to send messages to contacts on iMessage.

Back in February of this year, Apple SVP of services Eddy Cue said iMessages handles roughly 200,000 per second, revealed to John Gruber of Daring Fireball.

The American non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), noted Apple’s iMessage was one of the most secure messaging platforms available today, back in April.

Would you want to have iMessage on Android?