This messaging app has been acquired by WordPress's parent company Automattic for $125M

In a move that signals its entrance into the messaging space, Automattic Inc., the company behind blogging platform WordPress, has completed the acquisition of the messaging app Beeper for $125 million.

Beeper, known for its universal chat application that integrates with various messaging services into a singular inbox, has made notable strides since its beta launch in 2021. By integrating services such as Facebook Messenger, Signal, and Slack, Beeper has attracted approximately 100,000 users.

This acquisition comes on the heels of Beeper's contentious encounter with Apple over the "Beeper Mini" app, which facilitated Android users' access to iMessage, prompting a swift response from Apple to block the service.

Third-party app Beeper to finally bring RCS messaging to iPhones

The ongoing struggle between Google and Apple regarding the integration of RCS (Rich Communication Services) into iMessage is one that is well-known in the tech community. Despite Google’s persistent efforts to encourage Apple to adopt RCS support, Apple has made it clear that it has no intentions of enabling RCS-iMessage

TechloyEmmanuel Oyedeji

The dialogue around messaging standards is set to evolve further as Apple announced plans to support Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging between iPhones and Android devices later this year.

Beeper’s team of 27, including co-founder Eric Migicovsky, will join the Automattic family, with Migicovsky serving as Automattic's head of messaging. Known for his work on the Pebble smartwatch prior to Apple's entry into the wearable market, Migicovsky sees the acquisition as a good moment to amplify the conversation on the necessity of open messaging standards.

A Comparison Between RCS and iMessage [INFOGRAPHIC]

While both messaging protocols offer similar features, there are some differences between them. This article discusses the features of RCS and iMessage with a comparison infographic to illustrate.

TechloyOyinebiladou Omemu

With the acquisition, Beeper is poised to exit its beta stage and become available to a broader user base. Automattic's ambitious move into the messaging sector shows its commitment to diversifying its offerings and enhancing digital communication through innovative, user-centric solutions.