Filed under: iPhone, App Store
AIM and BeejiveIM updated for push support
AOL has updated both its free (download link) and paid versions (download link) of its AIM client for the iPhone. Besides push notification support, the paid version brings with it the ability to message in landscape mode -- although AOL says that the free version will gain this ability in a later release.
And if these updates alone aren't enough to fill your Monday iPhone app updating appetites, multi-protocol (which also includes support for AIM) BeejiveIM has also been updated (download link) to support push notifications.
And if these updates alone aren't enough to fill your Monday iPhone app updating appetites, multi-protocol (which also includes support for AIM) BeejiveIM has also been updated (download link) to support push notifications.
Note: AOL Instant Messenger is a product from AOL, which is also the corporate parent of TUAW & Weblogs Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
randomninjaatk said 10:33PM on 6-22-2009
It's sweet in BeeJiveIM!!!! Finally can use instant messaging the way it should be on my iPhone ;)
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samu said 7:09AM on 6-23-2009
Yup! Been waiting impatiently for this since last week. Fantastic to have it here at last!
They seem to have improved performance a lot, too; much quicker and slicker than before.
waiownsyou said 10:37PM on 6-22-2009
Well, AIM did it. I still have v1.4.0.1 (aka the last version before they split the two into a free and paid version with ads on the former) and I guess it's time to enjoy those sweet, sweet apps. Push notifications = yay
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oz_paulb said 10:40PM on 6-22-2009
Does BeeJiveIM support 'push' for all networks? If so, how does it do it?
Does it keep my login details on their servers (so their servers can constantly keep me logged-in and notice when I get a new IM)?
Just curious how well the push notification stuff is before paying for it (sure would be nice if they had a 'trial' version).
Thanks!
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Buckingham said 11:45PM on 6-22-2009
I remember reading on the beejive forums that no user credentials are stored in their servers. Your authentication details goes to their system encrypted, they decrypt it, logs you in, and retains the connection to the corresponding IM side.
As for 3.0, I've tried Gtalk, MSN, Facebook, and AIM. I get lots of disconnections though offline (meaning I get a push message saying you got disconnected at AIM or Gtalk). There's also the Yahoo problem because Yahoo just recently changed their IM protocol and Beejive said they're working on a quick fix.
George said 10:42PM on 6-22-2009
Is there any main difference between the two apps besides the ability to log in to multiple chat networks? Most of the people I IM with are on AIM, but would consider Beejive if I knew more about what the benefits were.
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Noah said 10:59PM on 6-22-2009
I honestly haven't used the AIM app, but here is what BeeJive can do...
Support for all major IM clients.
Lists all my contacts, on/offline, with avatar icons.
Multiple chats at once, shake to switch.
Can link contacts with "iPhone Address Book" contacts to supplement missing information (email address, full name, phone number, etc.)
Supports all 3 notification settings (badge, sound, notification popup)
Can stay logged in for 24 hours after app closes.
Chat "overview" shows 1-x messages your contacts sent you while on a different tab or after app was closed.
Emoticon support.
Can send pictures (and soon video) to contacts (via link or direct transfer)
Update away status/messasge.
Auto away after x minutes, option to send message to contacts.
Different backgrounds for chat tab.
Different colors for incoming messages/outgoing messages (like the SMS iPhone app)
Various themes and other UI customizations.
Oh, and it's QUICK.
Am I missing anything?
George said 11:03PM on 6-22-2009
Cool, thanks. Sounds like the AIM app does much of the same, save for the multiple chat networks. Looks like AIM is good enough for me, I don't live on iChat, but I do use it occasionally.
Tariq said 2:30AM on 6-23-2009
Noah forgot one key feature: landscape keyboard!
KarlW said 11:32AM on 6-23-2009
All IM clients except Skype text chat!
George said 12:03PM on 6-23-2009
@Tariq: AIM has landscape mode coming soon according to the app description. I think the paid version gets it first, then the free version.
scoot0241 said 10:43PM on 6-22-2009
haven't been able to get AIM to push messages to me... everything in the app preferences and the notification settings seems to be turned on but no pushes
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ieatzpie said 11:51PM on 6-22-2009
Have you selected the option to stay logged in after closing the app?
John said 2:14PM on 6-23-2009
Same problem for me!
I'm on the Vodafone network in India. My iPhone is a freshly jailbroken AT&T model (Indian telcos charge $800 for iPhones), but Vodafone is an official iPhone carrier here.
I don't know whether it's the Indian network, the jailbreak screwing something up, or something wrong with Apple's servers right now...but AIM and beejive both don't Push
Jeannie said 4:38PM on 6-25-2009
I have the same problem... all the correct preferences seem to be enabled so I have no idea how to fix it :(
Noah said 10:43PM on 6-22-2009
BeeJive works GREAT! It allows for all three types of push notifications... badge, alert, and sounds. You can change the options (pick all three, or just one or two) in your Settings > Notifications.
You can stay logged on for 24 hours after closing the app (so you'll get notifications during that time period).
BUY BEEJIVE IM. Seriously.
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Sam said 10:48PM on 6-22-2009
Its on sale this week... But they said it won't last long after they get the push notification version approves.
Sam said 10:46PM on 6-22-2009
Hooray for Beejive push notifications! No more push IM emails filling up my inbox! This, combined with Find My iPhone make me happy for 3.0 final.
I always forget how corporate TUAW truly is until posts like this remind me. I know Weblogs Inc. say they give writers complete freedom, I question if a post bashing Time Warner Cable wouldn't get a few nasty phone calls to the editors.
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Anthony said 10:46PM on 6-22-2009
How strange is it that I had to click the above App Store link for AIM to get version 3.0.1? Checking my updates from the application section of iTunes and navigating to the app through the store did not work. Oh well, thanks for the link!
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astrosaurus said 11:06PM on 6-22-2009
This is basically what I've been wanting ever since I got my phone. Gonna give it a spin now...
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