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Using AIM for text messages..
- Thread starter Ferris23
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The goal is to use text messaging without being charged for a text message. Because you are sending the SMS through AIM, you are not being charged for a text message, it is being sent as data (going towards your unlimited $30/month plan).
So what you guys are saying is - when you send a text through AIM and the receiver replies to it, their text pops up in AIM (not in your SMS program)?
I just assumed that I could avoid outgoing texts, but I didn't think the person's responses would appear in AIM rather than a regular SMS.
Yes. When a person responds to a text message sent through AIM they can respond to it. Their response comes back as an instant message in your AIM client, whether you're on a PC, Mac, or in the AIM app. on iPhone. For example, this is what it looks like when I texted my friend's phone in iChat:
Yes. When a person responds to a text message sent through AIM they can respond to it. Their response comes back as an instant message in your AIM client, whether you're on a PC, Mac, or in the AIM app. on iPhone. For example, this is what it looks like when I texted my friend's phone in iChat:
![example.jpg]()
Awesome!
But you guys may wanna keep 200 texts, as you may still get a random incoming text from someone.
This works well for conversations you initiate, but your friends may text you first, and that 1 text will count as SMS.
Then you can just respond to that text in AIM and have them reply to it to use IMs, but if they initiate through their phone, that will count as SMS.
Well, I thought the goal is to eliminate SMS from both parties? This will only solve one end where the party has access to AIM, the other party is still paying SMS for receiving and replying.
it'll run background processes? i just thought there would be a push notification.
so lets say im on wifi and i send a text to a mobile number. Will i be charged as to sending the text or receiving one back?
Maybe Push, Push alone would be sufficient.
Basically it'll notify you, sort of the same way that Push emails like ActiveSync is doing. Right now IM can only be done when your program is active, and which means you will miss a lot of messages unless you sit there all day and chat online.
Using AIM for texting
I got it to work fine, but i have a question. How do I make the phone numbers I add in a group show their nickname instead of a phone number? It would be so much easier to know who I'm texting. If anyone knows how to do this please post. Thanks!
I got it to work fine, but i have a question. How do I make the phone numbers I add in a group show their nickname instead of a phone number? It would be so much easier to know who I'm texting. If anyone knows how to do this please post. Thanks!
Yes.
The only issue is that some people that I don't know that well still text my phone number, and those texts add up. This is a good way to get a bunch of free texts though! I've been using this on AIM for years!
Does the AIM client on the iPhoen support adding pictures and stuff to messages like the desktop client does? If so, can you use this as an alternative to send picture messages?
Yes, I'm having 200 texts for this month as a transition month to get everyone to start sending texts to my GMail account. You can call 611 (AT&T customer service) and block all text messaging.
Create an email account, as I did, and have your friends text to that address. I made a GMail account of my number, #######@gmail.com, so that it's easy to remember. That way you don't have to open AIM if a friend texts you, you can just reply inside the Mail app.
It could be, but my goal (and I think everyone else's) is trying to solely eliminate your own text messaging charges. None of my friends are paying $30 for an unlimited data plan.
It will not run background processes, however it will use PUSH.
If you are sending a text to a mobile number within the AIM client, then it is free to send and receive.
Does the AIM client on the iPhoen support adding pictures and stuff to messages like the desktop client does? If so, can you use this as an alternative to send picture messages?
I don't think so. I haven't tried it, but last I checked there was no "insert file" or "direct connect" option within the AIM iPhone app. I don't believe you can send pictures or audio clips or any other files from a Mac or PC either.
I don't know about this one. In my iChat I have all of the numbers as nicknames. For some reason they do not show up that way on the AIM app.
Adding cellphone numbers in the form of +19876543210 to the IM section of someones address book page does replace the number on your iChat.
So maybe in the future, if we see an iChat we will see screenname support in the addressbook (Currently no field) and this could be read by AIM to give alias
I don't know if AIM has international support for that. Try going to AIM.com and reading up. It's all their end.
This GMail idea sounds like a good one but GMail does not allow login names of cell numbers such as 12125551212 --- it says "Sorry, usernames of 8 or more characters must include at least one alphabetical character (a-z)". Did you set up a GMail of just your phone number?
just put one letter in front of ur email like BXXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com. For me i personally use yahoo mail
or just dont include your area code... that's what i did... i had a similar idea a while back