Everyone wants an IM Client from the SDK... BUT.....

How do you know you won't be able to take calls while you're using an IM client? None of the third-party applications developed using the official SDK are out yet.

 

maybe apple would allow them to make it so when youre on wifi the app could run in the background. But I know they said that no apps can run in the background.

 

er.... Battery life anyone? Even on wifi, being permanently connected to the net would surely prohibitively drain the battery... Another flaw to the plan

 

on edge you can either use data or voice, but not both at the same time... 3g would solve this though.

 

Yes, I'm aware that Apple hasn't allowed third-party applications to run in the back ground. Actually, most of the built-in applications on the iPhone don't run in the background. The only ones that run in the background are Phone, Mail, Safari, and iPod.

If you've noticed, I haven't mentioned the SMS application. Why? Because actually, it doesn't run in the background. Surprising, eh?

 

Not really surprising. SMS is like email in the sense that you can send one to a recipient without them being available at that moment. The SMS is pushed to the phone when it becomes available, but the phone isn't polling a server to see if there's anything new for them constantly.

I wonder if a similar approach could be taken with IM? Instant messaging requires a connection to a server and the user to be authenticated, sure, but all the major services offer offline messaging to be received when the user is available again. Say you have an IM conversation going in a chat client on the iPhone. You're connected and polling the server, but when you switch away to the iPod app, Safari, etc. it stops the constant polling and instead checks less frequently.

Of course, this could all be solved by having IM chat work on a push basis instead of pull. At least, I think so.

 

personally, i'm not ready to take the step into 'instant messaging everywhere, anywhere, anytime'. if i'm out (or in class ) and want IM, i'll sign in and use it... i honestly don't mind if it can't run in the background. my only gripe would be if i couldn't run it in the background of the same usage session... for example, go into ipod and switch an album, or go onto safari and look something up, or use another app etc. but then go back to IM and still be signed in without having lost any messages.

 

Just because an IM app is always "connected" doesnt mean a constant flow of data has to go back and forth. Maybe a "keep alive" signal sent every so often.

There are IM apps on other devices that allow you to get messages anytime (unless you sign out).

I had one on my palm a couple years back that would give the option to get an IM via SMS or Data.

If the SDK allows some sort of hook to monitor incoming data or what-not, then the IM app could work. Otherwise, it will be no better than the web based apps such as jive talk.

 

I'm connected 24/7 no problem to me, I get days out my battery.

 

the sidekick and other phones do it and with edge no less. they will find the way. they can rebuild it, they have the technology...

 

IM is push.

The problem is that you need to keep a TCP connection open in order to receive messages. This is actually very similar to IMAP IDLE/PUSH, and Exchange Push.

It is also interesting that it isn't having this connection open that prevents incoming calls, it is data flowing over the lines that prevents the calls. But, with IMAP IDLE, or Exchange Push, if you receive a lot of mail, the odds you miss a call will go up. The same will happen with any similar IM service. And a developer attempting to make the server connect to the client won't always work, as how addressing with phones work is a bit wonky.

 

I've never really used IM, but isn't texting much the same? What does IM give you that texting doesn't?

 

Unlimited messages, server-side buddy lists....

 

Nothing much for me, then. As you were...

 

It's mostly for communicating with people at a computer, not on their phones.

 

Faster than sending texts back and forth. Doesn't use up text messages on plan.

 

Well I guess that's a risk that IM users will have to take! Battery life isn't a 'flaw to the plan'. How is it a flaw in any sense at all?

 

Battery Life shouldn't be too bad, but why stay connected 24/7 anyway? Just log off when you're done talking. (I do not see the point in staying logged on for days at a time..can anyone help me with that?) I know with my Sidekick 3 and current LX you can stay logged on and receive phone calls, but it temporarily drops the I/M client (i.e. disconnects you for some 30 seconds) but after the phone call is over, it re-establishes the connects your up and ready to chat (usually 30-60 seconds.) Somebody should be able to pull that with the iPhone.

 

From my understanding on ATT when you are on EDGE you can either use data or voice but NOT both. I don't know if it works this way on all carriers.

This pretty much makes IM useless on an I phone.

 

That's better than no IM client at all, no?

 

If it's possible on a Sidekick using EDGE, it's possible on an iPhone. Nothing to worry about people, these guys know what they're doing.