Sunbird Messaging has reappeared on the Google Play Store with a revamped iMessage app for Android users. The app, priced at $2.99 a month, lets Android users send messages to iMessage groups with blue bubbles and full reaction support, something many Android users have long wanted.
Apple and Google have improved cross-platform messaging with RCS, but Android users still face issues in iMessage chats, like broken replies and reactions. Sunbird says it has fixed security problems that forced it to shut down in 2023.
How the app works
Sunbird claims that all messages are encrypted from the start. They are encrypted before they leave your phone, again during transit over secure connections, and once more at rest using AES-256 encryption. On the way to an iPhone, Apple’s end-to-end encryption takes over, which Sunbird does not interfere with.
Media files are deleted within 48 to 72 hours. No files are stored beyond that. The company also says it does not store Apple ID passwords or reuse authentication tokens to log into users’ accounts.
Coming features
Sunbird is planning to add support for Google Messages, SMS, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. The app will also include an AI assistant that can summarize conversations and draft replies later this year.
