Sunbird Messaging has returned to the Google Play Store nearly three years after shutting down over security concerns, once again letting Android users tap into Apple's iMessage system. The app promises "blue bubble" messaging with reactions and high-quality video support, addressing a long-standing annoyance for mixed Android-iPhone group chats, where Android participants can disrupt reactions and replies even as RCS has improved cross-platform texting.

The relaunched app costs $2.99 a month and, according to Sunbird, now encrypts messages on-device before transmission, in transit over certificate-pinned connections, and at rest using AES-256, while leaving Apple's end-to-end iMessage encryption untouched. Chief executive Danny Mizrahi said an independent security firm audited the rebuilt app and found no critical vulnerabilities, and that Apple ID passwords are used only once to establish a session before being discarded, with no authentication tokens retained. The app also supports Google Messages and SMS, with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger integration, plus an AI assistant for chat summaries and draft replies, planned later this year.