Reader CrazyRower sends word of something small, but cool coming to iChat in Leopard. According to screenshots from an account named after Apple's favorite designer, sending a message to an SMS number is now builtin to the iChat File menu.As we've reported before, this is hardly a new feature-- you can do it with your iChat (or any other AIM enabled program; I did it on Adium) right now. All you have to do is go up to File, then New Chat, and instead of the AIM account name, just type "+1" and then any SMS enabled number. And whoever you message can even reply from the phone, and their reply will appear right back in your chat window.
But it is cool that it will be built right in to iChat's menu. You'll be able to send driving directions to your non-iPhone (or just bother your girlfriend with text messages while chatting online at work) that much easier.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-28-2007 @ 9:18AM
Nikke1973 said...
You can send sms only to US cells. :(
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6-28-2007 @ 9:20AM
Matthias said...
yes, it would be awesome that come leopard, all other continents would be supported...
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6-28-2007 @ 10:04AM
Peter said...
So +x isn't just the country code? That's the way they're referenced over here in Germany (+49)
I'll play with it when I get back to my Mac to make sure.
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6-28-2007 @ 10:19AM
Mark (UK) said...
Like so many Apple features/widgets it wont work outside the USA.
Mark
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6-28-2007 @ 10:23AM
Alex said...
Although it says it only works in the US i tried it in Canada and it works just fine :D
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6-28-2007 @ 10:43AM
Mystic said...
So, right now there are chat clients that can send and receive SMS messages? Then why are people bitching about not having iChat? And I know it's not just because they have to buy more SMS messages.
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6-28-2007 @ 11:21AM
Brian Allen said...
iChat was alway been able to send SMS messages. I'm I missing something.
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6-28-2007 @ 12:57PM
capuns said...
It doesn't work in Switzerland either.
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6-28-2007 @ 1:20PM
Greg G said...
I didn't know you could do that with iChat. Lol. I've been using a callwave widget.
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6-28-2007 @ 1:32PM
JJ Forde said...
I am with #7. iChat has always been able to. I am 90% sure If you control click a person on your buddylist and they have number in your addressbook it gives you teh option to send SMS messages....
Unless I installed some plug in and forgot about it at least.
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6-28-2007 @ 1:37PM
rbg said...
#7 and #10 are correct.. not leo specific.
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6-28-2007 @ 1:57PM
MfS said...
This isn't working for me on an Intel Mac mini on 10.4.10 in iChat. I go to iChat-->File-->New Chat with Person...(or New Chat)-->then I type in, exactly: +1XXXXXXXXXX...and all I get is a "This person is currently not online" message. (Am in the U.S.)
That's bull, I use the CallWave widget all the time to send SMS messages to my wife's phone, which is exactly like mine, all the time. I didn't know about this iChat feature which is always open on my Mac, and I'd prefer to use it instead of firing up Dashboard all the time.
What am I doing wrong?
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6-28-2007 @ 2:06PM
Mike Schramm said...
MfS, I'm not sure what's happening. Unfortunately, I'm at work (curse you Windows!) so I can't troubleshoot myself but here's more information if you need it.
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030625235057445
Good luck-- at least in Leopard it should all go much smoother.
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6-28-2007 @ 2:51PM
codeman38 said...
Also worth noting is that this doesn't even appear to work with all mobile providers even in the US. I have had no luck whatsoever getting messages to send to a Virgin Mobile USA phone through this method.
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6-28-2007 @ 3:39PM
Staggie said...
MfS: Since the capability is described for iChat in Leopard, 10.4.10 would not have the feature. You can try the method mentioned in 7 & 10 to see if it works, but the menu item isn't available in 10.4.
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6-28-2007 @ 3:39PM
Staggie said...
Just ignore that post. Oops.
Should read more closely.
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6-28-2007 @ 10:11PM
ricktugman said...
This has been a feature in IChat for sometime. I use it all the time and it only works with North American numbers! There is no way to SMS a European number!
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6-29-2007 @ 4:33AM
Seán Sloane said...
It's definitely +1 only. I've just tried sending myself an sms and it didn't work... :(
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6-29-2007 @ 4:26PM
cgsprite said...
anyone no how to get this working over in the uk? I could relly put this feature to good use.
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8-09-2007 @ 11:56PM
Jeff said...
#12 I and my co-workers have been getting that SMS error in iChat lately as well: "The person is not currently online." Is there a fix to this issue?
Also, has anyone tried SMS Widget? http://keakaj.com/sms.htm
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