Nothing Aims To Bridge 'Green Bubble' Divide with New Messaging App

In an effort to break down barriers between iPhone and Android users, Nothing has launched a new messaging application called Nothing Chats. The app aims to solve the so-called "green bubble" problem, where messages from non-iOS devices appear in green text bubbles in iMessage group chats.

Nothing Chats allows users of the Nothing Phone (2) to send messages to iMessage users via blue text bubbles. The app is developed in partnership with Sunbird Messaging and leverages its technology to integrate with Apple's iMessage service. It gives Nothing Phone owners access to iMessage features like group chats, read receipts, message reactions and media sharing.

Using Sunbird's patented process of creating and validating an Apple ID, Nothing Chats can act as an intermediary for iMessage communication. Sunbird uses a network of Mac computers to route texts and media between Nothing Phones and iPhones.

The Nothing Chats app will launch on November 17th exclusively for Nothing Phone (2) users in select markets like the US, Canada, UK and EU. It can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Users simply log in with an existing or new Apple ID account. There's no word whether Phone (2) users in India will be able to use Nothing Chats at launch.

With Nothing Chats, the company hopes to eliminate divisions between messaging platforms by allowing open communication. As more services silo users into separate ecosystems, Nothing aims to break down those walls. The app could allow Android users to fully participate in conversations with their iPhone-using friends and family.

Nothing stresses all Chats messages are encrypted end-to-end to protect privacy. However, it remains to be seen if the app can effectively mimic iMessage without access to Apple's proprietary protocols.