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Any insights how they plug into iMessage?

They probably use a "ghost" device on their end (e.g.: Beeper with their Macs[1]) or a helper app you install on your Mac to plug into Messages (e.g.: AirMessage[2] with its macOS helper app).

1: https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-use-imessage-android-b... -- see screenshot #2

2: https://airmessage.org/install/

Texts runs on your device, so we don't need ghost devices right now. iMessage integration is handled with a helper tool indeed!

No idea, but I’m not sure Apple will permit an iOS app that does that.

When you compose a new message on iMessage, below the text field where you type your message is a scrolling bar of app icons that can be invoked and do stuff with the message you are creating. Apps can appear here and provide functions.

The built-in Photos app is probably the most used one, typically you open it to create or select a picture to attach.

I'm not sure of the API or what it allows you to do, but it probably uses that same mechanism.

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