Phones Canada is excited to share the news that Automattic, the company behind WordPress and Texts.com, has acquired Beeper, a startup known for offering a unified chat experience across various messaging services. This acquisition, completed for a reported $126 million, marks an exciting merger between these two popular messaging apps.
Despite recent headlines surrounding Beeper’s dispute with Apple over iMessage integration, the app has officially transitioned out of its beta phase with the acquisition announcement. Beeper is now available to all users without any waitlist restrictions, emphasizing its commitment to user privacy and data control – values that align perfectly with Automattic’s dedication to free open-source software.
Under Automattic’s ownership, Beeper will continue to operate independently within the company’s “Other Bets” section. Users can rest assured that the app will remain available and their privacy will be safeguarded. The current business model of offering a free app with optional premium features is expected to remain unchanged moving forward.
Eric Migicovsky, Beeper’s founder, is enthusiastic about the possibilities that come with merging Beeper’s technology with Texts.com’s desktop-centric strengths. By combining the best of both platforms, they aim to create an even more dynamic messaging experience for users. Migicovsky also acknowledges Kishan Bagaria, founder of Texts.com, highlighting their longstanding collaboration. With Migicovsky set to take on the role of “Head of Messaging” in the newly merged Beeper entity, there is anticipation around Bagaria’s future role within the organization.
Existing users of both Beeper and Texts.com can expect business as usual for now. Migicovsky reassures that there will be no immediate changes to either platform apart from Beeper officially exiting its beta phase. The privacy policies and terms of service for Beeper will also remain unchanged at this time.
As these two teams come together, the focus shifts towards building what Migicovsky calls “the best chat app on earth.” The concept of an open-source messaging platform presents intriguing possibilities, bringing Beeper one step closer to realizing this ambitious goal. Stay tuned as we watch how this merger unfolds and what innovative developments lie ahead in the world of messaging technology.
