Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky discusses the universal messaging app, the conflict with Apple, and the power and benefits of open protocols. They explore the use of the Matrix protocol in building Beeper, the advantages of protocols over platforms, the challenges of launching a new chat app, and the importance of decentralization and federated services. They also touch on legal cases, data scraping, personal data ownership, and the future of messaging through decentralized apps and protocols.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of prioritizing decentralization and protocols over platforms, enabling multiple third parties to improve user experiences.
Beeper's use of the Matrix open-source chat protocol allows for a unified chat experience across different chat networks, aiming to address the challenge of having multiple chat apps with different subsets of contacts.
Deep dives
Importance of Decentralization and Protocols
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of decentralization and protocols over platforms. By prioritizing decentralization, multiple third parties can build on and improve user experiences, leading to more experimentation and differentiation. In contrast, the internet has moved towards silos and limited innovation, inhibiting user experience. Beeper, a universal chat app, aims to bring together different messaging apps into a single user interface, allowing users to have a seamless communication experience.
Beeper's Vision and Solution
Beeper was created to address the problem of having multiple chat apps with different subsets of contacts. It aims to provide one app that can be used to communicate with all contacts, regardless of the chat network they are on. Beeper utilizes the Matrix open-source chat protocol, which allows for the compatibility of different chat protocols. By building on top of Matrix, Beeper enables users to have a unified chat experience while remaining connected on various chat networks. It strives to improve user experience, encryption, and features to create a chat system for the future.
Business Model Considerations
Beeper acknowledges the challenge of establishing a business model for a chat app. While most chat apps are offered for free, Beeper aims to have a transparent relationship with its users by charging a reasonable amount for certain features. The company believes in the importance of clearly defining the vendor-customer relationship and prioritizes the reliability, privacy, and security of its service. Beeper recognizes the expectation of chat being free for most users while exploring ways to support the ecosystem, increase matrix network adoption, and determine the right pricing model.
Apple's Blockage and Policy Implications
Beeper encountered a dispute with Apple when it introduced Beeper Mini, enabling Android users to send encrypted iMessage messages and participate in iMessage group chats. Apple blocked Beeper Mini, claiming security concerns, despite the improved encryption and features it offered. This incident has raised important policy questions regarding users' rights to access and control their personal data, as well as the role of open standards and third-party clients. The podcast highlights the need for individuals and the tech community to support and nurture ideas that challenge the dominance of big tech companies and advocate for user control and innovation.
Last month, we wrote about Apple's nonsensical attack on Beeper, a universal messaging app that exemplifies many of the things we talk about here on Techdirt, like adversarial interoperability and the value of embracing open protocols over walled platforms. This week, Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky joins us on the podcast to talk about the app, the fight with Apple, and the power of protocols.
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