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Using AIM (iChat) Over SMS

One criticism about the iPhone is the lack of a dedicated iChat/AIM client. Some have tried to use Web 2.0 Instant Messaging applications such as Meebo with mixed results.

Forum user dontwalkhand provides an interesting tip that allows you to actually log into AIM over SMS and send and receive messages as if you are logged in. This means that you appear on your friend's buddy lists as logged in, and messages sent to you automatically arrive via SMS.

To Login to AIM over SMS. Send a text message

"ScreenName[SPACE]Password" to 265000
Example: "JohnDoe abcdefgh" (where JohnDoe is your username, abcdefgh is your password)

You will then recieve a confirmation 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.


Obviously, chatting over SMS can get expensive so unless you have an unlimited SMS plan, you should be wary. In my brief testing, it appeared to work well, but can be a little awkward initially once you get individual chat sessions started with your buddies.

A full guide to AIM Text Messaging services is available here (PDF).

Users of Yahoo Messenger or MSN can similarly use Yahoo's Messenger for SMS documented here.

Top Rated Comments

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Posted: 64 months ago
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
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Posted: 64 months ago
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.
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Posted: 64 months ago
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?
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Posted: 64 months ago

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 :p) In short: Yes you can maintain multiple sessions.
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Posted: 64 months ago
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Posted: 64 months ago

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.
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Posted: 64 months ago

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?
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Posted: 64 months ago
Not sure why, but I kinda like the Sending dialog when you send an SMS. Some say its slow, but its kinda neat IMO.
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Posted: 64 months ago
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
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Posted: 64 months ago

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)
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