Apple’s Eddy Cue wanted to launch iMessage on Android, but it was rejected

Federighi rejected the idea, fearing that “iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones.”

Apple Messages. (Unsplash)

Apple's iMessage has been the company's one of the key communication apps, which is used widely and sees new features year over year with OS updates. However, since its launch, the app has been limited to Apple's iDevices only. It's not there for Windows PCs or even Android smartphones. You can use it on iPad, iPhones, Apple Watch and Mac products. However, at some point one of the Apple executives did think of bringing this Apple-exclusive instant messenger to Android.

But this was revealed a few days ago in a court hearing between Apple and game developer Epic.

However, now, a new deposition (via Android Police) shows that this decision of launching iMessage on Android came back in 2013 from none other than the current Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services - Eddy Cue.

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For those unaware, Cue reports directly to CEO Tim Cook and oversees iTunes Store and Apple Music along with Apple Pay, Maps, Search Ads, iCloud services and Apple's productivity and creativity apps. Cue was also a part of the team when Apple was building its online store in 1998, the iTunes Store in 2003 and the App Store in 2008.

However, the idea of iMessage on Android was outright rejected by the current Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, Craig Federighi. This was mentioned in a brief by Epic containing excerpts. Federighi rejected the idea, fearing that “iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones.” This is also shown by Epic to prove how Apple locks customers in its ecosystem to create a monopoly. The excerpt adds that Phil Schiller, who is now an Apple Fellow, agreed on not launching iMessage on Android.

The Verge, giving details, reported that since there were rumours of Google planning to buy WhatsApp instant messenger, Cue said that Apple had to expand its platform to competitors so they could be on the same level as Google (if it ends up buying WhatsApp).

As for the Apple-Epic case, this claim might help Epic prove a point but it won't put Apple in a difficult situation as it is completely legal. So, you can expect Apple to keep iMessage exclusive to its platforms in the coming future.