What word? They never said they'd open iMessage. FaceTime is what they intended (or at least Jobs announced the intent) to open, and then that got caught up in a patent dispute.
FaceTime is not really true either. This was a convenient mistruth. There were several way to remedy that situation.
Also your misremembering iMessage there was no such issue.
> Yes but that would have meant giving up sales in exchange for actually backing up their words.
What word did they not back up with respect to iMessage? When did they ever say they'd open it up?