(UPDATED) Nothing Tried to Make an End Run Around iMessage and Failed

On November 14, Nothing, the maker of the Nothing Phone, introduced Nothing Chats, a new chat app for Nothing Phone (2) users that would finally lay to rest the battle over Android chat bubble colors. In case you've been hiding in a cave since smartphones were introduced, the green Android chat bubbles are the bane of everyone's existence. Why can't we all just have the same color chat bubbles?

However, on Saturday, November 18, Nothing pulled the new app from the Google Play store. According to a post on X (formerly Twitter), the move was made to deal with "several bugs." Users have pointed out that those bugs are actually security and privacy issues that could put the people using the app at risk.

The problem with message bubble coloring goes a little deeper than just the colors. It has to do with the format of the messages sent from either Android or iPhone devices. Nothing has partnered with Sunbird, a US-based developer, to create the Nothing Chats app that allows users to send messages (with the signature blue bubble) using their Apple ID (yes, on the Android-based Nothing Phone).

Now Nothing is working with Sunbird to fix the bugs that have people concerned.

If it is ever released again the Nothing Chats app will only work on Phone(2), the most recent version of Nothing's phone offerings, but the notice that the app was being pulled mentioned only that the app launch was being delayed until "further notice." No additional details have been shared about how long it might take to fix the privacy issues users found, and when (or even if) the app will ever become a reality.

So, if you're one of those people who can't stand to see the different colored bubbles in your chats, we're sorry to say that you may have to suffer a while longer.