Poke Gets Apple Approval as AI Agents Move Into iMessage Distribution
Poke received approval to operate on Apple's Messages for Business platform, adding iMessage to its AI-agent distribution channels. The startup says it has relayed about 100 million messages and will pay Apple on a per-user basis, with exact pricing not disclosed. The immediate test is whether iMessage access increases consumer use enough to justify the new platform cost.
Apple Approval Opens a Messaging Route for Poke
Poke has received approval to operate on Apple's Messages for Business platform, giving the consumer AI-agent startup a route into iMessage rather than only SMS, Telegram and WhatsApp in selected markets.
Poke said it is the first AI agent approved for the platform.
The approval matters because Messages for Business has historically been used by airlines, retailers, hotel chains and other companies to interact with their own customers through iMessage, with automated chat and live agents inside a standard interface.
The startup launched in March and targets users who want agent-style assistance without command-line tools or more complex systems.
Poke can handle tasks including daily planning, calendar management, health and fitness tracking, smart-home control and photo editing through text messages.
The company says it has relayed about 100 million messages.
Distribution Costs Move Into the Agent Model
The commercial signal is not only access to another messaging channel.
The Interaction Company of California, the Palo Alto-based startup behind Poke, says it will pay Apple on a per-user basis, with exact pricing not disclosed.
Von Hagen said Apple's pricing is significantly lower than Meta AI's fees after EU regulation required Meta to permit third-party AI agents on WhatsApp.
He also said Apple charges Poke per user and could make money from the model if usage becomes large.
That turns messaging distribution into a cost line for AI-agent startups.
If Poke's iMessage rollout scales, other agent developers may have to evaluate whether Apple approval and a familiar consumer interface offset per-user platform fees.
Approval Requirements Set a Practical Gate
Poke had to verify that it could provide live support if needed and that its AI agent was clearly identified.
The startup also submitted testimonies from messaging providers and adjusted the iMessage interface to follow Apple's guidelines, including link previews and Apple's style guide for buttons and interface elements.
Von Hagen said the process took "a couple of months" and said others that want to build on the platform should expect a similar approval period.
Poke is rolling out invites to existing users so they can optionally move to the iMessage experience.
The startup is backed by Spark Capital, General Catalyst and other angels, has 10 employees, recently added $10 million on top of last year's $15 million seed round, and is valued at $300 million post-money.
The immediate test is whether iMessage access converts Poke's existing user base into heavier usage without making per-user platform fees a drag on agent economics.
