Sunbird Messaging has reintroduced its app that brings iMessage to Android, and the app is now available on the Google Play Store following an early access testing period.
Sunbird returns to Google Play
The app lets Android users send “blue bubble” messages to iPhone users instead of the standard green bubbles. Sunbird integrates iMessage, RCS, and SMS/MMS into a single app.
Security history and current protections
Sunbird was previously available from late 2022 through late 2023 but was shut down by the company due to security concerns. The app had been sending users’ Apple ID credentials to a Sunbird server unencrypted over HTTP. As a result, an attacker could intercept all Sunbird messages and media attachments, and Sunbird employees had access to a platform that stored all message content. The app returned in an invite-only beta in April 2024 and had not been publicly available until now.
Sunbird says messages are encrypted on-device and in transit and are not stored on Sunbird servers. An Apple ID is required to use Sunbird; the company says passwords are used once to set up a session and are then destroyed. More security information is available on Sunbird’s website.
Features, limitations and pricing
When Sunbird launched it promised features Android users lacked, such as typing indicators, read receipts, and higher-quality media. Those features are now available for Android-to-iPhone chats because Apple has adopted RCS, meaning Sunbird’s primary visible difference is the blue bubble appearance. iMessage through Sunbird does not register a phone number; users will appear to contacts by email address. Android users can try the app free for 14 days; a subscription costs $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year.
