Agile is Free? Not Anymore.

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.agilemobile.com/announcement.html' target='_blank'>http://www.agilemobile.com/announcement.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Starting July 2005 we will begin charging a small monthly license fee for the use of Agile Messenger. Three years ago Agile Mobile set out to develop a truly "agile" instant messaging client to provide seamless access to the instant messaging networks, wither it be from the bus, the beach or the gym, without sacrificing any of the functionality and power of the conventional desktop clients. During the initial development period we have allowed our loyal user base to use Agile Messenger for free. We want to thank everyone for their invaluable feedback, suggestions and bug reports, which have allowed us to make Agile Messenger into what it is today."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050730-Agile.gif" /><br /><br />All good things must come to an end, so the well-known Agile Messenger that was once free to users is not so free anymore. If you're a user of the product, you may have noticed the introduction of a new licensing fee - a maximum of €2.99 per month appended to your phone bill.<br /><br />I guess you can't really complain about a company needing to make a bit of money to stay in business. I used to be an Agile user, though I reverted back to the default MSN Messenger client a long time ago, so this announcement doesn't affect me all that much. However, I'm sure many of you aren't in the same boat. Your thoughts?

[Raphael Salgado]

I'd pay a small fee, but I'd rather have it as a PayPal or CC subscription, why through my carrier (even if they would support US carriers like Cingular)?

However, they really need to fix up a lot of bugs with their Pocket PC 2003 version (I'm using build 19). I sent them an email with over a dozen feature requests and bugs months ago, and never even got a response.

Maybe then it'll be worth it.

[MitchellO]

I haven't used Agile for a while either. I found its interface a bit annoying, and MSN did just fine.

[MitchellO]

the introduction of a new licensing fee - a maximum of €2.99 per month appended to your phone bill.

I think thats a bit steep too. It should be a one-off fee like other software.

[XandeR803]

I'm not sure that I understand how this fee will be charged. From my understanding it'll charge the phone carrier that you access their network through? What about pocketpc users using wifi?

[MitchellO]

Yeah that doesn't make sense to me either.

[saru83]

I used to have it on my P800 but never used it on my Imate Jam, anyways, its worth paying this amount if u r a frequent user.

[webkishor]

I use agile on my pocket pc. I don't have it connected to my phone. How do they plan to charge me?

[csterns]

I used it for Yahoo what else is out there for Yahoo?

[emuelle1]

I have Agile V2.0 on my Dell x30. I would never deny a company the ability to charge for it's products, but software is a completely different world. I would not pay a subscription fee. I normally log in to my computer through a remote connection at work, and I have two friends from my Navy days that I'll chat with over Yahoo. For whatever reason, our proxy at work blocks all chat clients except for ICQ's Java client. I can also connect to Yahoo Messenger from Agile on my Pocket Pc on Internet passthrough. I use that as a backup in case my remote connection goes down, and I use a remote keyboard or Remote Display Control to handle the typing.

If they're going to start charging though, I'll just move on to another client, although I don't see how they plan to charge me for the version I've been running all along.

[stevew]

I used it for Yahoo what else is out there for Yahoo?

Why not just use Yahoo messenger through Yahoo mobile site? I have no problems that way.

[encece]

How do they charge you via your phone bill? Would that mean that the Network would need to offer the service as one of their own?

I love the program and the service it provides, lumping all three IM services that I use into one, which is why MSN doesnt work for me. Many friends still use AOL IM, so I'm stuck with needing an integrated solution.

Also, why not just a flat program fee. Why the subscription? Does it use their servers in anyway? I thought I was connecting directly to the individual services.

[Paul Martin]

I've use Agile on my Pocket PC rarely...just on occasional trips, using wi-fi. While it's been handy, it's not worth paying monthly. I'll be finding another client.

[encece]

Well, if you ask me, this is an incredible app. The service charge needs to go. On my Smartphone the only other IM app in IM+ or iMov Messenger. And they are not nearly as nice.

[Rudism]

I do not understand how they can charge a licensing fee through carriers either... Isn't Agile Messenger just an application that communicates directly with the IM servers (MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, etc)? Or does all communications pass through some central Agile-owned server first? If the latter, then I suppose it makes sense. But that's not how I understood the program to work.

[saru83]

R u guys sure its gonna work this way, coz it seems there is something wrong here, its gonna be a headach for them to charge through the carriers :?
Regards,
Sarwat

[farnold]

I would never deny a company the ability to charge for it's products, but software is a completely different world.
So why is that? That sounds a bit odd to me as software is a product as well, isn't it?

[Jason Lee]

you have to remember this is primarily a mobile phone app. most people download it from their carrier's site. (though i don't know any in the U.S. that offer it.)
Everything you download to your phone actually has an expiration date, games, rings, graphics... all of it. now if the item actually expries is another thing. but many apps i've seen actully charge you by the month as a service. like the weather channel radar image app, you have to pay for it every month.

now i don't see how they are gonna be able to charge wifi ppc users or for that matter any mobie phone user who's carrier they don't offer a dowload through. most likely the download link will go away on their site or become a pay me first link. those that already have the app will probably still be able to use it. unless it actually does touch their server during sign in. then they will just update the version number and require the newest version to sign in, thus eliminating all previously free downloads.

however if this is the case and i now have to pay every month i will go buy one of those other messenger apps or just install aol (if it is still free) and deal with yahoo's wap messenger (since yahoo nerfed their own free client).
i will not pay per month for an app i heardly use. I cal count the time on one hand that i really need aol or yahoo im.

[grantlairdjr]

I've seen AIM or MSN IM standalone client out there but I've never seen Yahoo. I did looked at Yahoo mobile website and they dont have one for ppc version.

If I want to run IM thru website, what's the address?

gwlj

[Darius Wey]

I've seen AIM or MSN IM standalone client out there but I've never seen Yahoo. I did looked at Yahoo mobile website and they dont have one for ppc version.

There is a Yahoo! Messenger client for the Pocket PC, but it's terribly old. I'm not sure if it's of any help to you.

http://asia.messenger.yahoo.com/download/wince.html

[Jason Lee]

I've seen AIM or MSN IM standalone client out there but I've never seen Yahoo. I did looked at Yahoo mobile website and they dont have one for ppc version.

There is a Yahoo! Messenger client for the Pocket PC, but it's terribly old. I'm not sure if it's of any help to you.

http://asia.messenger.yahoo.com/download/wince.html

Last time i tried that it wouldn't work. Yahoo had blocked their own messenger so you have to use the web interface. It would sign in, my friends list would draw in and then i would get booted.

Let me know if anyone gets it to work.