Mobile instant messaging applications are those ones that allow internet users to access their favorite IM networks from their mobile phones and stay connected with their desktop computers while on the move.
Photo credit: Windows Live Mobile
Mobile instant messaging applications are going to play a great role in the future, due to the diffusion of WiFi-based mobile devices. With such mobile applications we are now capable of accessing the most popular IM networks, such as MSN, ICQ, GTalk etc. through our mobiles connected wireless to the internet and save lots of money by making calls via free VoIP software.
Mobile IM applications have different features: some of them allow users to access multiple IM networks in the same time; others are instead mobilized versions of single desktop IM clients and, therefore, enable you to connect only to one IM network per time.
Among these mobile applications, there are some that also integrate support of other services like blogs, email, photo and video sharing services, maps and web search, letting you transfer the desktop experience to your phone.
In this mini-guide, I collected for you the best mobile IM applications I have run into during the last months. All these applications are specifically conceived to enable "normal" Java-based cellphones to access IM networks even when their users are not sitting at their computers. The greatest part of them is completely free to use and available both for mobile phones and PDAs.
At the bottom of this list, you will find a newsradar that automatically collects all the latest news on mobile instant messaging.
Please note that in no way this list intends to be a comprehensive and complete showcase of all mobile IM applications. You are invited to utilize the Comments section at the end of this article to add and provide references, info and links to other relevant tools that could be included in this list.
Here is what I selected for you:
Skype calling from standard mobile phones:
EQO
EQO is a plugin that allows you to call and receive calls from your
Skype buddies on your mobile phone. To use EQO, you will need a Skype user account with
SkypeOut credits, a broadband connection, Windows XP/2000 and a mobile phone with a data plan. Unlike traditional phone calling, which requires the use of phone numbers, Eqo allows its users to see the presence status of her Skype buddies effectively taking mobile phone to a next level of usability and efficiency. Currently, EQO supports the following mobile phone models:
- Audiovox
- Motorola
- Nokia
- Palm
- RMI (BlackBerry)
- Samsung
- Siemens
- Sony Ericsson
- PPC 6600
- SMT 5600
You need to download and install the EQO Beta version in order to create your own EQO account. A confirmation code will be sent to your mobile phone for final confirmation that the service is up and working. Free.
Link: http://www.eqo.com/
Access online applications via your mobile phone: MobileGlu
mobileGlu is a service that allows users to access their online favorite applications through their mobile and enables developers to mobilise their existing web services. Basically, mobileGlu pulls the data from your life online and automatically optimises it for your mobile device. This service currently supports del.icio.us,
Flickr,
moblogUK,
upcoming.org,
Blogger and RSS feeds with more being added as time goes on. If there are services you wish to see mobilised, you can get in touch with mobileGlu developers and tell them. Check it out. It's free to use.
Link: http://www.mobileglu.com
Mobile chat messaging to major IM networks from your cell phone: MXit
MXit is a message exchange program for your cell phone. That means you can chat to people on their PCs and to other MXit users on their mobiles, from your mobile, anywhere in the world. With MXit, you can send a message of up to 2000 characters. And not only can you chat to other MXit users, but you can also connect to MSN messenger,
ICQ,
Google Talk or
Jabber communities. Sending a message costs you less than 1 cents ($) per message. MXit can be used anywhere in the world, as long as there is
GPRS/
3G coverage. You can download MXit for free.
Link: http://www.mxit.co.za/
Access to your IM networks and your RSS feeds directly from your mobile device: Bluepulse
Bluepulse is a software that allows you to run tiny widgets such as instant messaging and RSS on your mobile phone. The Bluepulse client comes with two starter widgets pre-installed: an RSS reader and a "buddies" widget that lets you access to MSN Messenger,
Yahoo! Messenger and
ICQ instant messaging from your phone. A growing community of developers already created widgets for TV and movie listings, music, news, and more. Once you sign up for an account, the Bluepulse client will be sent to your mobile phone. Bluepulse works on
Java and
Symbian handsets, on any network, anywhere. The costs of connection to internet from your mobile may differ according to your phone company. Free sign up.
Link: http://bluepulse.com/
Instant messenger for portable devices allows you to access to the most popular IM networks: Agile Messenger
Agile Messenger is an instant messenger available for virtually every networked portable device that allows third party software to be installed. Agile Messenger enables you to access to MSN Messenger,
Yahoo! Messenger,
AIM, and
ICQ. Supported platforms include:
Symbian Series 60,
Symbian UIQ,
Microsoft Smartphone,
Microsoft Pocket PC,
Palm OS 3.5+ and
J2ME. Agile Messenger requires download. Free to use.
Link: http://www.agilemobile.com/agile_messenger.html
Mobile application that lets you chat and send messages wherever you are: Mabber
Mabber developed a mobile application that lets you chat and send messages wherever you are. Required is a recent mobile phone equipped with Java and some sort of data-plan. After login you can transfer the existing contacts from other instant messaging networks (
AIM,
ICQ,
MSN Messenger,
Yahoo! Messenger) to your account. You can use Mabber either on the web or download the mobile client for your Java-enabled phone. With Mabber you can send messages with low cost, as it is cheaper than using SMS text messaging (1 kb of data allows for about 7 messages). Free to use.
Link: http://mabber.com/
Software that provides data communications and messaging for mobile devices: WebMessenger
WebMessenger Mobile Platform (WMP) is a software that provides mobile data communications and instant messaging. WMP's Real Time Messaging feature supports corporate instant messaging systems including IBM Lotus IM,
Jabber Inc. XCP Enterprise Server,
Microsoft Live Communications Server and
Exchange IM. WMP also supports public instant messaging networks including MSN, Yahoo!, AOL and ICQ. WMP is available in a Windows version for enterprises and a
Sun Solaris version for wireless carriers and ISPs. Also available is WebMessenger Mobile for
Skype a client that lets you take Skype on the road. WebMessenger Mobile for Skype client requires download and it is free. Mobile Instant Messenger comes at $5.95 per month.
Link: http://www.webmessenger.com/
Use Skype from your mobile phone, without having to download anything on your device:
Voxlib
Voxlib enables you to use
Skype from your mobile phone, without having to download anything on your device. All you have to do is install a software on your computer, which will connect Skype and your mobile. If you call your
SkypeIn number to access Voxlib, the only costs you will incur when calling a Skype contact will be for minutes of mobile usage billed by your mobile operator.
SkypeOut charges will also apply if Voxlib is used to call a regular telephone. If you prefer not using SkypeIn to access Voxlib you can also use SMS.
Watch the demo to know more. Free download for a limited time.
Link: http://www.voxlib.com/
Mobile IM and blogging service by Windows lets you access to your virtual world from your cellphone: Windows Live Mobile
Windows Live Mobile is a service that brings e-mail, blogging, web search, maps, and driving directions directly to your mobile phone. You can now access your virtual world also when you are offline. The service is still in beta and it is free to use; however, wireless air time charges may apply. You will need to refer to your wireless service plan for details.
Link: http://mobile.live.com/GoLive/
Mobile instant messaging application enables you to connect to the major IM networks from your mobile:
Jargong
Jargong is an application for your mobile phone that allows you to chat with your
MSN,
Yahoo!,
ICQ,
AIM,
Google Talk and
Jabber connected friends. Just visit
http://get.jargong.com on your mobile web browser. If your phone is supported you will the be able to download Jargong by simply clicking on the displayed link. Check out the
list of supported phones. Free to use.
Link: http://www.jargong.com/
Mobile IM Applications Newsradar
