Text Message Charges

[Churc22]

With an unlimited data plan, is it not possible to just use an AIM-like service to send IMs to whoever's cell phone number you want. I know you can do that with AIM, so I don't see why you cant just do that on the IPhone and not even worry about paying the extra $5 a month. Granted, it would be a small hastle, but for $120 over the life of the contract, it could be worth it. What is the feasibility of doing something like this?

 

[benmrii]

Have to wait for more details on this. Some phones currently treat AIM messages as text messages with regard to billing, so while your workaround could be sufficient in theory (supposing everyone you wanted to talk to also had an AIM enabled phone or was at a computer) it may not be possible depending on how AIM works through the iPhone.

Personally I doubt that will be the case considering the keynote specifically talked about the software 3rd parties could use for push notifications, using AIM as an example, which probably wouldn't be necessary if they were treated primarily as text messages.

 

[Churc22]

AIM for the computer has the ability to send messages to phones that are treated as text messages by the receiving phone, just from your user name rather than your phone number...so lets hope the possibility is there.

 

[zulgand04]

It would defiantly be nice if they allowed this, but I have a strong feeling that AT&T would defiantly not allow this. If AIM ends up on the iPhone I can it being like most other phones where it uses you txt messages to send and receive through AIM. However I can see that if your using wifi it would not use your txt messages, but only if your away from wifi that it would use your txt messaging plan. I wouldn't mind this option either.

 

[Eric Lewis]

or if you and some friends all have iPhones...

use email..its almost as fast as SMS and free (once u have data)