Tapbots, the renowned developer of iOS applications, is gearing up to launch a new app called Phoenix, specifically designed for Bluesky's rapidly growing social network of over 32 million users. This move marks a significant expansion for the company, which has previously focused on the fediverse with its popular Mastodon client, Ivory.

In a post on Bluesky, Tapbots shared its website, teasing the new app, which is expected to launch later this summer. The company clarified that its work on a Bluesky client doesn't mean it's abandoning its efforts in the fediverse, but rather, it's a strategic move to support both networks and ensure the company's survival.

Ivory, which launched in 2023, brought back Tweetbot's look and feel and several of its features to offer an alternative to Mastodon's official social app. As a federated app, Ivory is integrated with ActivityPub, the protocol powering a host of federated social apps, including Mastodon, PeerTube, Pixelfed, Meta's Threads, Flipboard, and others. In contrast, Bluesky is built on a different protocol, the AT Protocol (or atproto for short).

Since Twitter's acquisition by Elon Musk and its transformation into X, many former Twitter users have moved on to other networks, including Mastodon and Bluesky. For an indie operation like Tapbots, that meant its customer base was split between two services, making it harder to generate revenue with just one app. "For us to continue to thrive as a company, we must support both," Tapbots shared on its website. "Unfortunately, we can't survive on Mastodon alone."

The company explained that it decided to launch a dedicated app for Bluesky users instead of combining the two networks into one app because this would offer users a better experience. Those who want to maintain a presence on both social networks will be able to take advantage of a planned cross-posting feature. However, this development means that work on Ivory will need to slow temporarily as the team focuses on launching Phoenix.

Tapbots assured users that it did not want to start Phoenix development until after releasing Ivory v2.3. Once Phoenix is out the door, development will happen concurrently, and both apps will receive significant improvements. Although the company has not announced Phoenix's monetization strategy, it is likely to follow a similar subscription model to Ivory's, which offers a free app with in-app purchases for access to premium features.

Phoenix will enter a limited public alpha phase ahead of its summer 2025 launch. News of Phoenix's launch was first reported by MacStories. As Tapbots expands its reach into the Bluesky ecosystem, it will be interesting to see how the app fares and how users respond to this new development.

In the broader context, Tapbots' move highlights the growing importance of decentralized social networks and the need for developers to adapt to changing user behaviors. With the rise of Bluesky and Mastodon, it's clear that users are seeking alternatives to traditional social media platforms. As the social media landscape continues to evolve, companies like Tapbots will play a crucial role in shaping the future of online interactions.