Apple exec was asked about iMessage, and why it never made its way to Android
Before we get to it, it’s worth noting that Craig Federighi sent an email way back in 2013, saying that an Android version of iMessage would result in more Android sales. At the time, he said the following: “I am concerned iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove an obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones”. Well, he was asked about that email during an interview with the Wall Street Journal, actually. That’s how the whole story got started. Craig Federighi said: “And so if we just shipped an app that really didn’t get critical mass on other platforms, what it would’ve accomplished is it would’ve held us back in innovating in all the ways we wanted to innovate in messages for our customers, and wouldn’t have accomplished much at all in any other way”. So, based on what Federighi said, Apple had to make a choice. It had to choose where to invest its resources. At the time, the Android version of iMessage “seemed like a throwaway that wasn’t going to serve the world”.
Is that the real reason, though?
Now, some of you are probably reading this and wondering if that’s the real reason. The truth to the matter is, offering iMessage on Android would automatically mean fewer iPhones sold. We cannot know the real numbers, but that’s what it comes down to. It’s not exactly a secret that iMessage is driving iPhone sales, at least in the US. The whole green bubble-blue bubble controversy is well-known these days. Things were different back in the day, though, at least to a degree. The bottom line is, iMessage on Android would basically be like giving iPhone users a green light to try out Android. Many of them are so integrated with the iOS ecosystem, and for many, iMessage is the main app in it. Who knows, maybe iMessage on Android wouldn’t mean a mass exodus of iPhone users, but it would certainly allow some of them to make the jump, and many would say that is the main reason Apple kept it exclusive to iOS. This topic is especially interesting these days, as Google is trying to push Apple to adopt RCS. Apple seemingly doesn’t intend to do that, unfortunately, so don’t hold your breath.
