Always on IM Program?

[tom_rob]

Guys, just trying to come over from the Blackberry that had a great messaging program that showed when messages (PIN's) were delivered to other blackberrys.
I'm trying to find a program for the IPhone that is always on and can send messages (not sms). I tried AIM but it only works when I have it up on the screen...
Is there anything that is always on, on the IPhone?
Thanks, I appreciate the help!
Tom

[Touchmyipod]

No there isnt yet

Closest is Beejive IM app in iTunes

[tom_rob]

Oh man... That's too bad... might be a deal breaker for me...
:-(

[Dim]

Apple doesn't allow 3rd party programs to run in the background, so if you exit the IM program, it is closed.

In the case of the Beejive IM app, if you exit, they will let your account stay logged into the servers for a specified period of time so that people can still IM you. You won't see those IM's until you open Beejive back up, though, although you can choose to have an email pushed to you when you receive a new IM (which will notify you no matter where you are on the phone).

Not an ideal solution, but maybe good enough for some until Apple loosens its grip on 3rd party restrictions.

[tom_rob]

I'm shocked by this. Apple seems so cutting edge, and the phone does too, but this one feature seems archaic...
I was reading about the Beejive and it seems even with the push it may take a couple of minutes to receive a notification. I love how the Blackberry keeps the IM program running, and even shows you when your message is delivered when seding to other blackberrys or someone on the same service....
I'm sitting here playing with the Iphone and really like it, I'm just bummed about this...
I've been reading other forums and past posts, and it seems like people have been thinking this feature, or ichat, would be coming out just around the corner for years...
I'm bummed!

[Dim]

Well look how long it took for 3rd party apps to be supported while jailbroken iPhones could run 3rd party apps since early on. Apple has been nothing short of paranoid with their lockdown of the iPhone so far and it's been baby steps the whole way, unfortunately.

[tom_rob]

Thats true... This is a sweet little phone, but I think I'll take it back and wait until always on IM is available and then make the jump from my Blackberry...
Thanks for the help Dim... I'm going to miss this thing...
Tom

[ReyZero]

Yeah I found it weird too since I came over from Verison and all my phones had AIM/Yahoo/MSN on at all times in their application (took a data plan or whatever though).

I found a way to have MSN messages text me, and when I reply to that it'll reply like I was on MSN. Since I have unlimited data it's okay. I don't use Yahoo/AIM anyway.

[daihard]

Palringo, one of the IM apps available via App Store, keeps your status as logged on 3 hours after you shut it down. It will keep all the messages sent to you during that period and show them when you restart Palringo. Not as convenient as being able to keep the app running all the time, but it's better than nothing IMO.

[tom_rob]

Well, she went back today... I miss my Iphone but I'll stick with the Blackberry Storm until you can run some sort of IM program in the background... But the day they allow that, I'll have the phone... ah well...
Thanks for the help everyone.
Tom

[gaharrington]

Yeah I found it weird too since I came over from Verison and all my phones had AIM/Yahoo/MSN on at all times in their application (took a data plan or whatever though).

I found a way to have MSN messages text me, and when I reply to that it'll reply like I was on MSN. Since I have unlimited data it's okay. I don't use Yahoo/AIM anyway.

ReyZero,

I would love to get what you're describing working--IM-to-SMS-to-IM--how did you do that?

Thanks!

[ReyZero]

I've actually done a couple of things, so I'll try to trace back exactly what I've done.
First off I'm using the latest version of Windows Live Messenger.
Open it up, and click tools on the top, and click edit your mobile settings. Click on the Mobile Settings button on the right, in the window that pops up.
Now since mine is set up I'm not exactly sure on the full set up process, but when I click the set up button for messenger alerts I just get a window telling me to make sure I have the box selected. BUT when I click Mobile info on the left side, my phone is in there, so you'll have to enter your phone number in one of those sections.
The website should help you step by step, and as an end result, what happens is when my computer and Xbox are off, (meaning it shows me offline on MSN) anyone that messages me sends a text to my iPhone (or any mobile device) with a random phone number. If you reply to that it'll go straight to their chat box like you were typing from your computer.
Keep in mind you can't text TO MSN, but only recieve, unless they've changed that, but I don't see how.

EDIT: I don't appear as offline to people, I appear as mobile, with a cell phone for my icon.
When I got a message it was a (XXX) XXX-XX number, and the first message on the line was the e-mail for the MSN sender

[Rick76]

Not exactly IM but if you download Facebook, you can set it up to notify you by text message when an update/message comes in for you. Simply click on the Facebook icon to reply.

[baggss]

ReyZero,

I would love to get what you're describing working--IM-to-SMS-to-IM--how did you do that?

Thanks!


AIM will do this, at least with iChat. I set it up to fwd messages to my cell so my status is "Mobile" unless I am logged on. If someone messages me when I am in "Mobile" status it comes to my phone as an SMS and I can reply via SMS. It's quite smooth. This is not a feature of the iPhone, simply a feature of AIM/iChat I believe.

[Cobra302]

Not exactly IM but if you download Facebook, you can set it up to notify you by text message when an update/message comes in for you. Simply click on the Facebook icon to reply.


where is this setting in the facebook app? i've looked but cant seem to find it! thanks!