Can't Believe the iPhone forgot Instant Messaging

[iwork4ispot]

They talk about how the phone is so "revolutionary" but it doesn't have a BUILT-IN IM App/Widget. I mean come on you expect to run MEEBO.com on your Safari? Most regular cell phones have AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and MSN Messenger as actual APPS not some Washdown AJAX/JAVA/HTML. Plus running something like MEEBO would make the phone run so sluggish. It already does on a normal computer, let alone the iPhone? I hope Apple release an update to actual embedd AIM/YAHOO/MSN.

I'm still buying an iPhone ;)

[nlivo]

i'm sick of this complaining about the iPhone's lack of features....its got a lot more stuff than most phones and i dont know why i am being so protective of it but lets just get one thing straight.....

- why would you need instant chat on a phone....pointless - i know it like free texts but its a waist of time and its always boring...i hate MSN and all that crap

- i have never needed to record video on my phone ever

- and why do people want video chat on their phone....it is pointless...it would be so awkward and very unnecessary....the quality would be **** anyway



in my head "why am i being so protective about the iPhone?"

[alexh516]

you also need to understand that something like an IM app is easily downloadable via software updates (if they decide to create one of course).

[Bossx20]

apple didnt "forget" to add ichat, there are obviously some issues with at&t that are still unresolved.

[iwork4ispot]

time will tell...

[joelk]

apple didnt "forget" to add ichat

very true. you just dont forget that type of feature.

[iwork4ispot]

very true. you just dont forget that type of feature.

That is true, maybe on the 29th when everyone downloads iTunes 7.3 an update pushes out. And includes it, who knows?

[avalys]

It seems pretty clear to me that the only reason IM is not on the iPhone is that it will cut into AT&T's text messaging revenue. With unlimited data, why would you ever use a text instead of an IM?

Hopefully, someone will do something about this soon.

[joelk]

It seems pretty clear to me that the only reason IM is not on the iPhone is that it will cut into AT&T's text messaging revenue. With unlimited data, why would you ever use a text instead of an IM?

Hopefully, someone will do something about this soon.

man, i need more coffee this morning.

there are IM clients on many phones already right? perhaps they are just waiting for the leopard version of ichat ... now if they were to enable a skype type option then i could see that being a threat.

[dagomike]

At first I was like, so what, it has SMS, but then realized yeah it would be really cool to be logged into iChat while out and about. More people get me via IM than text messages. I don't even have a text or data on my phone now, so I forget what it was like to have mobile IM.

Hopefully it will be added at some point, but I've been living without it, so I'll manage to continue.

[roland.g]

The didn't forget instant messaging. You can run a SMS conversation. Or, wait, it's a phone, here's an idea for an instant message, actually make a call, it doesn't get any more instant than that. What is the big deal about IM. It's great for computers as a 2ndary choice to talking to someone. It has no business on a phone. People use skype with headsets so they can make free calls and not have to type.

[skinnylegs]

Eh.....the lack of IM support doesn't bother me a bit. Text messaging is essentially the same thing. SMS on an iPhone looks just like iChat and conversations are saved. What more do you want?

[oliverlubin]

apple didnt "forget" to add ichat, there are obviously some issues with at&t that are still unresolved.

clearly. iChat is one of Apple's iconic programs. as for ATT, they want to charge you a per-message fee for sending anything and the problem is that iChat would use the unlimited data plan so ATT would not get any revenue from this.

lets hope meebo or other similar services enable versions of their site that work with the iPhone... problem solved till Apple releases iChat down the road.

i cannot imagine that Apple is the hold-up here, both with iChat and with Picture and Video messaging (im betting that camera can be turned into a video camera through software updates...)

[avalys]

Eh.....the lack of IM support doesn't bother me a bit. Text messaging is essentially the same thing. SMS on an iPhone looks just like iChat and conversations are saved. What more do you want?
Well, a few things. IM is free, and IM is what I use on my computer - if I had IM on my phone, then people would be able to always contact me by sending an IM. They wouldn't have to switch between sending an IM, and sending a text.

[dagomike]

IM /= SMS

If you're logged into IM, you're essentially available to chat. Sending an SMS you don't even know if the other guy's phone is turned on.

[TenaciousPZ]

They talk about how the phone is so "revolutionary" but it doesn't have a BUILT-IN IM App/Widget. I mean come on you expect to run MEEBO.com on your Safari? Most regular cell phones have AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and MSN Messenger as actual APPS not some Washdown AJAX/JAVA/HTML. Plus running something like MEEBO would make the phone run so sluggish. It already does on a normal computer, let alone the iPhone? I hope Apple release an update to actual embedd AIM/YAHOO/MSN.

I'm still buying an iPhone ;)

OMG, who frigging cares!!!?!? Enough already. How many DIFFERENT ways do you need to communicate with someone? From the same device!?

Get over it already.

Text messaging, e-mail...and btw its a ********* phone.

[skinnylegs]

I use iChat to send test messages to my g/f throughout the day.and btw its a ********* phone.....among other things. :p

[jamesarm97]

Eh.....the lack of IM support doesn't bother me a bit. Text messaging is essentially the same thing. SMS on an iPhone looks just like iChat and conversations are saved. What more do you want?

It is not the same thing. I send and receive IM's from my wife / son while they are at home. They do not have a cellphone to sms to, but stay logged in to IM.

- James

[joeconvert]

apple didnt "forget" to add ichat, there are obviously some issues with at&t that are still unresolved.

Treo 750 has an AT&T supplied mutl-service chat application that uses the data connection.

[slffl]

I can't believe you forgot about SOFTWARE UPDATES.