Beeper Relaunches: On-Device Model & Premium Features

Beeper Messaging App Relaunches with Enhanced Security and Premium Features

The multi-service messaging application, Beeper, is being re-released on Wednesday. This new version prioritizes enhanced security by eliminating the necessity for its proprietary cloud services.

Alongside this security upgrade, Beeper is introducing a range of premium subscription options. These provide expanded account access beyond the free tier and incorporate advanced functionalities for power users.

Acquisition and Integration

Currently under the ownership of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com – having been acquired for $125 million in 2024 – Beeper has largely merged with Texts.com.

Automattic previously purchased Texts.com for $50 million the prior year. The combined team, consisting of 30 individuals including contractors, will operate under the Beeper brand.

Broad Platform Support

The messaging app now supports a wide array of platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, X, Telegram, Signal, Matrix, Slack, Google Chat, Discord, LinkedIn, and Google Messages (SMS/RCS).

Notably, on Mac computers, Beeper can also facilitate connections to iMessage conversations, despite previous access restrictions imposed by Apple.

Simplifying Communication and Enhancing Security

Automattic’s primary objective is to address the challenge of managing numerous messaging applications while simultaneously ensuring the security of user communications.

Previously, the app relied on Beeper Cloud for initial connections. Users now have the option to switch to “Beeper on device,” establishing a direct connection to the messaging network, bypassing the intermediary cloud service.

Privacy and Potential Challenges

“This ensures that end-to-end encryption is maintained and your privacy is equivalent to that of the official app,” explained Beeper CEO Kishan Bagaria.

However, the reception from the messaging platforms themselves remains uncertain.

Bagaria stated, “We maintain positive relationships with some companies, and others have not yet responded.”

Supporting Existing Business Models

To mitigate potential disruptions from messaging network providers, Beeper intends to support the existing revenue models of the original applications whenever feasible.

For instance, if a platform like Telegram displays advertisements, those ads will also be visible within Beeper.

Furthermore, evolving EU regulations mandating interoperability among messaging platforms may provide additional protection for solutions like Beeper.

Premium Subscription Options

A new premium subscription, Beeper Plus, is now available for $9.99 per month. This tier allows connections to up to 10 messaging services, exceeding the 5-service limit of the free version.

Beeper Plus subscribers also gain access to features such as scheduled messaging, chat reminders, incognito reading mode, multiple accounts per network, AI-powered voice note transcriptions (utilizing OpenAI’s Whisper model with user consent), and customizable app icons.

An even more comprehensive tier, Beeper Plus Plus, starts at $49.99 per month, offering unlimited account access and catering to the needs of businesses and social media managers. Annual subscriptions are available at discounted rates.

Integration of Texts.com and Future Plans

Following the acquisition by Automattic, the Beeper and Texts.com teams were combined to create a unified product. The integration is now 99% complete, with only minor features remaining to be transferred.

Automattic’s recent acquisition, Clay, a personal CRM, will also be integrated with Beeper, though it will continue to function as a separate application.

“It will primarily be built on the Beeper platform – remaining complimentary,” Bagaria explained. “Clay is an excellent app in its current form. Integrating it with Beeper will enhance its capabilities by leveraging more interactions and data.”

User Base and Ongoing Development

Beeper currently boasts millions of registered users, including those migrated from Texts.com. Users still utilizing Texts.com are now being offered the option to transition to Beeper, benefiting from the new on-device technology.

While some reliability issues may persist during the transition to the on-device model, these are being addressed. Eventually, Beeper Cloud will be phased out once the on-device model proves sufficiently stable for everyday use.

Future Innovations and Privacy Considerations

Looking ahead, Beeper aims to enable data accessibility for other companies, subject to user permissions and robust privacy controls.

For example, a Model Context Protocol (MCP) could allow users to connect to chat applications via platforms like Claude or ChatGPT to perform tasks such as summarizing messages.

Bagaria emphasized a commitment to privacy, stating, “We are developing solutions that are transparent about data access and provide users with granular control, including the ability to manually approve or deny data requests.”

“Training models on user data is unacceptable,” he added.