For people who are complaining about the lack of iChat and have unlimited Text

[dontwalkhand]

Oh Do I have a solution for you! Sure this solution is clunky, but it works since the iPhone sorts out your messages iChat style anyway.

On your iPhone:

To Sign on to AIM over SMS. Send a text message

ScreenName[SPACE]Password to 265000
Example: JohnDoe abcdefgh

You will then recieve a message back with a list of your buddies. To send an IM to one of your buddies:

ScreenName[Colon][Space] Message to 265010.
Example: JohnDoe: Hey dude wahts up?

When someone sends you an IM, it will land in your SMS inbox, simply reply to the SMS as if you were sending any regular old text message.
View the full guide from AOL here: http://aolmobile.aol.com/pdf/AOL_Mobile_IM_Services-Full_Service_Mobile_IM_User_Guide.pdf
I hope this helps you out! Hopefully this will hold people over until a real Instant Messaging solution is developed from Apple, which should be real soon.

WARNING: Please make sure you have an unlimited Text Messaging plan, as we all know this would quickly use up your 200. Especially considering how people feel the need to press enter/return after every word on AIM/iChat.

Peace

 

[D1G1T4L]

Great tip! Now if we could get Yahoo and MSN to have this service I would be VERY happy to upgrade to unlimited service. 1500 is plenty for me now but with this I could see me pushing that.

 

[xiaoyu04]

I've actually never heard of this feature from AIM before!

Just a quick question though- can you still maintain multiple sessions with different buddies while using this? would this all show up in one session on the sms application in iPhone or would it be separated by buddies?

 

[dontwalkhand]

I've actually never heard of this feature from AIM before!

Just a quick question though- can you still maintain multiple sessions with different buddies while using this? would this all show up in one session on the sms application in iPhone or would it be separated by buddies?

They show up as different conversations on the iPhone threaded SMS screen thingy (that's the technical term ) In short: Yes you can maintain multiple sessions.

 

[D1G1T4L]

Well did find a yahoo version

http://in.content.mobile.yahoo.com/new/messenger/tour1.html

 

[dontwalkhand]

Well did find a yahoo version

http://in.content.mobile.yahoo.com/new/messenger/tour1.html

And I believe since the new Yahoo Messenger can IM MSN users, you also got MSN covered also. Here is a link to Yahoo Mobile. http://messenger.yahoo.com/mobile.php. Though make sure when picking a phone, pick any phone and register your mobile number with them. Then you can sign on to Yahoo Messenger through text messaging.

 

[D1G1T4L]

And I believe since the new Yahoo Messenger can IM MSN users, you also got MSN covered also. Here is a link to Yahoo Mobile. http://messenger.yahoo.com/mobile.php. Though make sure when picking a phone, pick any phone and register your mobile number with them. Then you can sign on to Yahoo Messenger through text messaging.

Registered my phone number but can only figure out how to get alerts. Where is the messenger part?

 

[opticalserenity]

Not sure why, but I kinda like the Sending dialog when you send an SMS. Some say its slow, but its kinda neat IMO.

 

[dashboard]

Also don't forget about meebo, it allows you to chat with AIM, Yahoo, google chat, and MSN, and maybe some others; they just recently became iphone compatible, although I think they're still might be some formatting issues

 

[dontwalkhand]

Also don't forget about meebo, it allows you to chat with AIM, Yahoo, google chat, and MSN, and maybe some others; they just recently became iphone compatible, although I think they're still might be some formatting issues

Yes but with the SMS solution, it is not as cumbersome as using a web based IM applications. (I have never been fond of web based IM applications, even on a computer)

 

[organik]

for me the whole point of IM on iPhone is to not have to pay for SMS. Don't all your buddies on IM have SMS too? Looks basically the same on iPhone. I guess at least this way they wouldn't be charged for SMS...

 

[Furgster]

for the AIM thing, i know that meebo updated their site so that it is compatible with the iPhone

 

[MacFan782040]

i've done this for years

 

[raejae]

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I believe this is the mechanism by which most non-smartphone AIM implementations are made; I know the two previous phones I had both had AIM service, but the fine print warned me that each incoming and outgoing message counted against my SMS quota.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I believe this is the mechanism by which most non-smartphone AIM implementations are made; I know the two previous phones I had both had AIM service, but the fine print warned me that each incoming and outgoing message counted against my SMS quota.

In fact yes this is how most non-smartphone implementations are made. However, the AIM software preinstalled by the carrier on smartphones also charge by SMS, people who want to avoid this restriction would venture off to find their own IM software.

for me the whole point of IM on iPhone is to not have to pay for SMS. Don't all your buddies on IM have SMS too? Looks basically the same on iPhone. I guess at least this way they wouldn't be charged for SMS...

For me its actually to communicate with people when they are on their computer

 

[motorazr]

darn

I just got the 200 sms...I think $60 is enough for my bill...good tip tho! might have to try it anyway

 

[hanschien]

I just got the 200 sms...I think $60 is enough for my bill...good tip tho! might have to try it anyway

It'll be close to $79~80 after it's all said and done depending on where you live.

 

[Yankees 4 Life]

um yea this is a long standing practice, but too expensive... i'll just wait for the major update

 

[kaioken145]

has anyone got yahoo to work this way, I tried following the instructions but couldn't get it to work

 

[chrissurra]

Another way to ichat

This one allows others to send an im to your phone as a text.

Sign up on aim.com to forward the ims to your iphone. Heres the link http://mobile1.aol.com/mobileaim/forwardims

You appear online to your buddies and they can im you.

You can then answer the ims just as a text, obviously if you dont have unlimited texts this might not be a good idea.

The only downside is the lack of buddylist.

This seems easier then the other method of texting your username and password everytime though.

 

[bbplayer5]

Or just add ichat to the iphone.

 

[chrissurra]

Thats not the same thing as what I posted.

If you sign up at aim.com you always appear online to your buddies, you just have a phone icon next to your username. Aim then fowards the im to you via text.

You can even block certain buddies from imming your iphone.

This is easier to me then the other method.

 

[loudestnoise]

This one allows others to send an im to your phone as a text.

Sign up on aim.com to forward the ims to your iphone. Heres the link http://mobile1.aol.com/mobileaim/forwardims

You appear online to your buddies and they can im you.

You can then answer the ims just as a text, obviously if you dont have unlimited texts this might not be a good idea.

The only downside is the lack of buddylist.

This seems easier then the other method of texting your username and password everytime though.

I have used both the method listed in the story/post and as the user said above. I prefer to use just the forwarding service, because most of the time I like the fact that I can be reached, but don't usually want to initiate conversations with people. It even allows for quiet hours and privacy based on your buddy list. I'd recommend forwarding

 

[ecks618]

The most important question here is, How do you sign off?

 

[dontwalkhand]

This seems easier then the other method of texting your username and password everytime though.

You only text it once, until you sign off or until AOL kicks you off the server

The most important question here is, How do you sign off?

Send 'A' to 265001, you will then recieve a text message saying you've signed off.