Automattic-owned Beeper is releasing redesigned desktop and iOS apps

WordPress.com owner Automattic last year acquired the multi-service messaging app Beeper for $125 million and said it would merge it with Texts.com, an earlier acquisition in the same category. Now, Beeper is releasing the first set of redesigned apps for iOS and desktop in beta after the merger.

In a blog post, Beeper said that it built the desktop app using Texts.com app’s foundation, and the iOS app from scratch. The company added that the new set of apps are faster and less battery hungry.

On X, Texts.com founder Kishan Bagaria said that while users can still use the old app, eventually the company will provide an easy way to migrate to the new set of apps.

Currently, the app uses Beeper Cloud to store messages and credentials for other services. In upcoming versions, all this data will be stored on-device. What’s more, the new apps will have on-device encryption for better privacy and security, and support multiple accounts associated with the same messaging service. Bagaria also mentioned that down the line, the Mac app will allow users to send and receive iMessages.

Beeper was founded by Eric Migicovsky, who was the founder of the Pebble smartwatch and a partner at Y-Combinator. After the acquisition, Migicovsky became the outfit’s head of messaging. However, last month Migicovsky announced that he is focused on building Pebble again.