Apple’s iMessage is once again making headlines as the blue/green bubble debate resurfaces. However, a new warning has emerged for the billions of iPhone users and Android users who are connected through iMessage. With Apple’s WWDC approaching in June and the release of iOS 18 later in the year, changes to iMessage are anticipated. Despite the hopes of many, the green bubble problem associated with non-iPhone users is not going away, as the adoption of RCS alongside iMessage is not the solution many users are seeking.
Sunbird has reemerged as a potential solution to bridge the gap between Android and Apple’s ecosystems. Acting as a relay between Android devices and Apple’s network, Sunbird converts Android-oriented texts into iMessages when received by Apple devices, and vice versa. While this may appear to the iMessage user as end-to-end encrypted conversations, the relay system is not truly secure. Sunbird has technical control over the data flow and the ability to change how it is handled, which compromises the end-to-end encryption assurance.
Sunbird’s return has been timed for Easter, with a formal press release and website refresh. Despite addressing the security vulnerabilities from their previous iteration, Sunbird’s lack of end-to-end encryption is apparent in their latest platform. The company suggests its method of bridging Android and Apple users as a secure communication solution, but the encryption provided is not truly end-to-end.
Apple’s RCS deployment with iOS 18 in the fall will not offer end-to-end encryption, continuing the blue bubble issue between iPhone and Android users. Sunbird’s attempt to create a bridge between the two ecosystems may not be as secure as alternatives like Google Messages, which uses basic client-server encryption. Without a collaboration between Apple and Google to create an end-to-end encrypted cross-platform solution, the blue bubble problem may persist.
Even though Apple’s iMessage is a highly secure platform when used exclusively within its ecosystem, the lack of secure alternatives for cross-platform messaging is a concern. To ensure the security of their communications, users are advised to avoid third-party relays to iMessage and instead opt for cross-platform alternatives like WhatsApp, Signal, or Facebook Messenger, which offer end-to-end encryption. Until Apple changes its approach or a new secure messaging protocol emerges, the blue bubble debate between iPhone and Android users is likely to continue.
