Running IM and Skype in the background?

[tulsa40]

I'm considering switching from my Windows Mobile phone to an iPhone. I've read about hacks that can let you run programs in the background. Has anyone successfulyl run both:

Skype

and

IM programs (a program that lets you access several IM services at once)

in the background. And been able to run these so that if you get an IM while another program is running, there's some kind of alert that appears, letting you know that you have a message.

I'm happy to leave Windows Mobile behind...if such a thing is possible.

Thanks.

[AndyT4097]

The SDK doesn't allow developers to make apps that have backgrounding. Your answer is no, unless you jailbreak which is a whole nother can of worms.

[Sparky_92]

The SDK doesn't allow developers to make apps that have backgrounding. Your answer is no, unless you jailbreak which is a whole nother can of worms.

Andy is full of FUD. After you Jailbreak your phone (takes like 2 seconds), you can install Backgrounder which will let you run any app in the background.

[AndyT4097]

The SDK doesn't allow developers to make apps that have backgrounding. Your answer is no, unless you jailbreak which is a whole nother can of worms.

I mentioned the jailbreak option, thank you.

[Jimmy97]

Beejive IM is a viable option for you: You can keep it running in the background (sort of). But I doubt if fring (the Skype app) lets you do the same.
For Beejive, it isn't exactly running in the background, but when you exit it, you have the option not to sign out. That way everyone still sees you online and can send you messages. Now, since it can't run in the background and doesn't support push, it makes use of the iPhone's Mail Push capability. You can use your mail account, and get e-mails sent to it every time someone IMs you from the app (remember, they still see you online.)

Not very convenient, but it's your best choice if you don't want to jailbreak.

Now, jailbreaking is really simple, shouldn't take more than a few minutes and it doesn't need a tutorial, though you can find dozens on the internet (I recommend www.iclarified.com) After that, install backgrounder. It slows things down if you run a lot of apps in the background, so don't use it on more than the ones you really need, i.e. fring and BeejiveIM or whatever IM app you'll use.

In my opinion, none of these are very ideal. Til Apple introduces real push (which could be a while, but I'm hoping it's with the 3.0), those are basically your options. I haven't installed backgrounder, for fear of slowing down the iPhone, so I'm not sure that if you have it on, the IM app will show you a little red notification on top of it like the Mail app does when you get a new message.

Good luck.

[tulsa40]

Thanks for the information. It sounds doable, but it also sounds like this is not the smoothest way to have always-on instant messaging. I don't mind modifying things (heck, as a Windows user one gets used to that), but it does sound a but Rube Goldbergish. Amd it may leave me wondering....is my IM actually working in the background.






Beejive IM is a viable option for you: You can keep it running in the background (sort of). But I doubt if fring (the Skype app) lets you do the same.
For Beejive, it isn't exactly running in the background, but when you exit it, you have the option not to sign out. That way everyone still sees you online and can send you messages. Now, since it can't run in the background and doesn't support push, it makes use of the iPhone's Mail Push capability. You can use your mail account, and get e-mails sent to it every time someone IMs you from the app (remember, they still see you online.)

Not very convenient, but it's your best choice if you don't want to jailbreak.

Now, jailbreaking is really simple, shouldn't take more than a few minutes and it doesn't need a tutorial, though you can find dozens on the internet (I recommend www.iclarified.com) After that, install backgrounder. It slows things down if you run a lot of apps in the background, so don't use it on more than the ones you really need, i.e. fring and BeejiveIM or whatever IM app you'll use.

In my opinion, none of these are very ideal. Til Apple introduces real push (which could be a while, but I'm hoping it's with the 3.0), those are basically your options. I haven't installed backgrounder, for fear of slowing down the iPhone, so I'm not sure that if you have it on, the IM app will show you a little red notification on top of it like the Mail app does when you get a new message.

Good luck.

[Jimmy97]

Amd it may leave me wondering....is my IM actually working in the background.
It is, trust me. I've tried and experimented with it, and seen it with my own eyes using 2 accounts: one on the PC and one on the iPhone. I saw the account on the iPhone as online even after I pressed the home button on the iPhone. I've also asked some of my friends, same result. It works. ;)
Of course, there's the major drawback that BeeJive IM costs $16 from the AppStore, but it's a heck of an application. I almost don't mind that Apple didn't include a native IM app anymore. The only thing I'd add is file sharing, but that's already coming in an update (and you get those for free after you've paid the first time).
Alternatively, you could get it for free, but you'd have to jailbreak and modify a bit. It's how I got to use it (I'm not shelling out $16 for an IM app that should've been preloaded anyway ;) )

[tulsa40]

Well, there may be a trip to the AT&T store for me today. Backgrounder + Jailbreak sound like the working combination.

I do have one followup question, if you (or anyone) can answer it: Will Fring (or another Skype app for the iPhone) work with Backgrounder? I'd like to have both Skype and my IM programs running in the background. (And hopefully that will slow the iPhone down, too much.)


It is, trust me. I've tried and experimented with it, and seen it with my own eyes using 2 accounts: one on the PC and one on the iPhone. I saw the account on the iPhone as online even after I pressed the home button on the iPhone. I've also asked some of my friends, same result. It works. ;)
Of course, there's the major drawback that BeeJive IM costs $16 from the AppStore, but it's a heck of an application. I almost don't mind that Apple didn't include a native IM app anymore. The only thing I'd add is file sharing, but that's already coming in an update (and you get those for free after you've paid the first time).
Alternatively, you could get it for free, but you'd have to jailbreak and modify a bit. It's how I got to use it (I'm not shelling out $16 for an IM app that should've been preloaded anyway ;) )

[AndyT4097]

As far as I know, you can run two things with backgrounder with no problem. At least I didn't have a problem when my touch was jailbroken and I used backgrounder.