Regulatory Pressure Mounts on Apple for Shutting Down Beeper Mini App
US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr on Tuesday sought an investigation into Apple over the Beeper Mini app, which briefly enabled messaging interoperability between iOS and Android.
During the “State of the Net Conference,” Carr said the regulator should determine whether Apple’s move is “compliant with the FCC’s Part 14 rules” on accommodating users with disabilities.
“I asked the FCC to investigate whether Apple violated our Part 14 rules by blocking Beeper Mini — the app that enabled iOS and Android messaging to work together,” he wrote to X.
Beeper crossed the “blue bubble – green bubble” divide that Apple maintains as part of a wider set of walled garden policies that prevent competition.
“Apple’s broader set of exclusionary practices merits scrutiny by antitrust and competition agencies, but the FCC should also examine this case through the lens of the Part 14 accessibility, accessibility, and compatibility rules,” Carr added.
Beeper Mini was released last year and it allows Android users to access iMessage features.
However, Apple blocked Beeper Mini users and continued to shut down the app.
The FCC’s Part 14 rules set the requirements that an “advanced messaging service” such as iMessage must meet to ensure that they are available.
“Apple made changes to iMessage to disable Beeper Mini functionality,” Carr said. “Apple’s iMessage decisions have many negative consequences,” he added.
Apple had not yet responded to Carr’s request for an investigation.
