The instant messaging service has chosen an iMessage-themed logo. It features the main symbol of communication through virtual space, a dialog bubble. More specifically, two bubbles signify a conversation between multiple people. This image immediately sets a business tone and gives a realistic sense of the service.
iMessage grew out of a time when SMS was a major revenue source for mobile operators. Before 2011, iPhone users still relied on standard text messaging, often paying per message or through separate texting plans. BlackBerry Messenger had already shown Apple how a closed messenger within a single device ecosystem could influence user loyalty and phone purchases.
On June 6, 2011, Scott Forstall announced iMessage at Apple’s WWDC keynote in San Francisco. Carriers learned about it at the same time as the audience because Apple hadn’t warned them. The service bypassed SMS infrastructure by using Wi-Fi or mobile data. On October 12, 2011, iOS 5 brought iMessage to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch inside the Messages app, with delivery receipts, read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption.
By June 2012, Apple reported 140 million iMessage users and 150 billion messages sent. That year, Messages replaced iChat on Mac with OS X Mountain Lion. Tim Cook later said users sent 300 billion iMessages in one year, averaging 28,000 messages per second. In 2014, Apple faced lawsuits after some users moving from iPhone to Android stopped receiving texts; the company then launched a web tool to deregister phone numbers from iMessage.
In September 2016, iOS 10 turned iMessage into a platform with apps, stickers, message effects, and tapbacks. Its closed protocol remained central to the service: iPhone chats appeared in blue bubbles, while Android messages stayed green through SMS. WhatsApp, owned by Meta, became the main global rival outside strong iPhone markets. In 2023, under European regulatory pressure, Apple announced support for RCS, and in 2024, the feature arrived in iOS 18.
Meaning and History
In the summer of 2011, Scott Forstall announced iMessage, and by the fall it was already running on iOS. A year later, the service became available on macOS, and then versions for other Apple products appeared. In 2020, the company that owns the technology announced plans to launch a fully updated version of the application, adding new options.
Considerable attention is paid to the messaging service’s visual identity. That’s why the designers proposed a clear, light, and practical logo that’s easy to recognize. The color palette also avoids heavy visual effects; it’s simple and doesn’t provoke negative emotions. Naturally, the emblem’s thematic line is strictly maintained. Several versions specifically created for iOS and macOS are known.
What is iMessage?
iMessage is an instant messaging service that serves as an alternative to SMS and MMS on most Apple devices. Launched in 2011, it lets users send texts, photos, videos, documents, and stickers.
The logo features two overlapping dialog bubbles. The upper oval is white, complemented by three large dark blue dots in the middle. This figure is much smaller than the one in the background. The designers created a background gradient using several shades of blue, from azure to cornflower. The lighter part is at the top, and the darker part is at the bottom.
Earlier, another version had gray three dots and voluminous speech blocks. Shadows and an outline along the edge of the largest element made them three-dimensional. The initial chat emblem consisted of a single glossy blue bubble with shiny highlights. The central component was a white video camera (the FaceTime icon). In 2020, the parent company decided to unify its platforms, so after macOS Big Sur’s release, it changed the logos to green to match iOS.
From iPhone OS 1 to iPhone OS 3, a green square logo with rounded corners and a white dialogue bubble inside was used. It remains the same to this day, despite periodic adjustments. The blue icon is intended solely for iMessage and is compatible with macOS. However, Apple has recently been changing the visual identity of its products, so a green emblem with a single speech balloon has been announced.
Font and Colors
The iMessage logo has no text; it appears only in the dialogue window that opens when exchanging messages. The emblem’s color palette is predominantly blue, ranging from sky blue to sapphire shades. White also appears, making the upper speech bubble easy to see.



