How to Set Up iMessage

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tipb.com/2011/10/15/daily-tip-setup-imessage-ipad/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheIphoneBlog+(TiPb:+iPhone,+iPad,+iPod)&utm_content=Google+Reader' target='_blank'>http://www.tipb.com/2011/10/15/dail...t=Google+Reader</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Wondering how to setup iOS 5&prime;s new iMessage service on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch? Using iMessage you can send text messages, photos, video and much more to other iMessage users around the world, all over your existing data connection. That's right, no texting plans or charges needed! Here's how to get started."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1318814335.usr105634.jpg" style="border: px solid #d2d2bb; margin-left: 25px; margin-right: 25px;" /></p><p>If you haven't set it up yet, it is pretty easy. I've found the best option is to keep it all sync'd so that I have the same conversations whether I'm on my iPhone or my iPad. But that's just me, what are your thoughts? How do you like iMessage so far?</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

Played with this last week, and it was fun. Had a three way conversation going on that spanned the globe. Nice it was 'free' ;) Need to go back and see what I set up wrong, as the conversation came in fine on my iPhone (no SIM BTW), but not on my iPad (also WiFi only because I haven't slipped Verizon any $$$). Used the same IDs on both I thought. We did some chatting and photo exchanges.

Not sure how much better this is than Skype, which allows more cross platform use, but it does work well and is integrated with other phone aspects. Haven't had the opportunity to test the transition from txt service to WiFi. Not even sure how that should work. Will have to wait till the wife upgrades her phone. It's her primary device, so it has data service.

[sundown]

I think it's better than Skype for chatting because it's already running (unless you also always have Skype running). I like being able to send videos, though a 15 second video test on mine didn't transmit well when I temporarily lost wifi. This seemed to greatly confuse my phone. It recovered by sending it 10 minutes later. I suppose this is expected behavior but I wish it would let me cancel the send and retry manually.

[encece]

Sorry to be off-topic but to that point...I think iOS5 has a problem switching from WiFi to 3G. When switching between the two while running many programs...there seems to be some sort of confusion.

Even more off-topic...I'm seeing my Edge E a lot more often than I used to.

On topic...
I originally turned iMessage off because it seemed slow at time plus me and mostly everyone I know has unlimited data. Plus...all of my friends with iPhones are on AT&T. So messaging is free anyway.

I wish there were a truely universal Messaging app that worked across all platforms and devices including dumbphones.

[Sven Johannsen]

I wish there were a truely universal Messaging app that worked across all platforms and devices including dumbphones.

Maybe soon. You would think, with MS buying Skype, we would see a Skype client for WP7 sooner than later. Doesn't help dumbphones, but hey, can' have everything.

[encece]

I should rephrase my wish...

I dont want dumbphones to be able to run skype. But I want to be able to send/receive texts with them. Can Skype do that now? Would it be a Skype/GoogleTalk mashup? Maybe Trillian can make something until a service comes along that can unify all IM/Text/MMS/VideoChat.

[Sven Johannsen]

I sort of knew what you meant. No Skype doesn't have the ability to 'translate' from a web IM to a standard text. You are looking to not use txt at one end right. One end may be a purely WiFi device, iPad Touch, Sony S tablet.

Got to have some service providing a bridge, much like Skype Out/In does for voice. Not entirely sure iChat even does that. Need to get an iPod Touch connected up with an iPhone that has the data turned off (which I understand isn't an option on the 4S). When we were playing we all had either WiFi or 3G, so we all had data connections.

I don't believe there is one common IM/VoiP/VTC app for all the Smartphone platforms, plus tablets, and PC and MAC too. Skype comes the closest I think, only missing WP7. Heck even WebOS does Skype.

[Deslock]

I didn't do anything to set this up... I simply installed iOS on my wife's iPhone and mine. Now when we text each other, it goes as an iMessage automatically. The only differences are that it says iMessage in gray where you start typing and then the the sent message bubbles are a different color.

[Sven Johannsen]

I didn't do anything to set this up... I simply installed iOS on my wife's iPhone and mine.
It does take a little more effort on an iPad, especially a WiFi only one. The phone already knows who it is, by phone number, and surprisingly ;) Apple knows about it too. On the iPad you need to identify the device somehow as it isn't clear to the iChat service what you want its address to be. They expect it to be your Apple ID, but you can actually add more addresses. (you can do this on the iPhone as well).

I actually spent a bit of time looking for iChat on my phone after I upgraded. It installed a new app on my iPad. Took a little while to understand it was just a new feature of messaging on the phone.