This Week in Startups

Beeper's fight to break Apple's stronghold on messaging with Eric Migicovsky | E1892

7 snips
Feb 5, 2024
Eric Migicovsky, CEO of Beeper and founder of Pebble, shares insights on his mission to create a universal chat app. He discusses how Apple’s stronghold on iMessage limits user freedom and interoperability. Migicovsky reveals the challenges faced after Beeper Mini's brief launch and its quick user adoption. The conversation dives into the importance of breaking monopolistic practices in tech and highlights the innovative solutions being developed to improve cross-platform messaging.
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INSIGHT

Beeper's Mission

  • Beeper aims to be a universal chat app, consolidating all messaging platforms.
  • This simplifies communication by removing the mental overhead of choosing the right app.
ANECDOTE

iMessage Lock-in

  • Switching from iPhone to Android disrupts iMessage group chats and history.
  • This lock-in effect contributes to iPhone user retention.
ANECDOTE

Beeper Mini's Rise and Fall

  • Beeper Mini, an Android iMessage client, launched with features like end-to-end encryption and phone number association.
  • It gained 100,000 paid users in three days before Apple blocked it.
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