Technologists and parents around the world want this.  The most common use case is the parent who has an iPhone or iPad, and kids that have lower cost devices **WITHOUT MOBILE PLANS** or older Android devices who want to be able to seamlessly communicate with parents using the tech that the parents already use.

Yes, they could all just switch and standardize on WeChat, or Viber or Snapchat, etc., but that isn't the point.  iMessage is very good, and Apple wants to a) push iMessage, and b) help positively affect the world (by their own admission).

Bringing iMessage to Android will absolutely improve communication around the world, and solidify Apple's place in the messaging ecosystem.  Without doing this, it is possible for a competitor to take the leading slot.

One of Apple's concerns is adding value to competitive hardware, my suggestion is that you can offer iMessage to Android users for a fee.  Yes, people will grumble, but in the end, if they can solve their communication annoyances by paying for the app form Apple and then will be quite happy.  So this is a revenue opportunity for Apple.

Lets spread the word and see if we can make this happen!  Please Apple!

Msg me on twitter @aschwabe and use hashtag #imessage4android