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Your argument that Apple revolutionized text messaging is kind of flawed. Even if you ignore IM/XMPP clients (they're not the same), fact is, RIM did it first w

Your argument that Apple revolutionized text messaging is kind of flawed. Even if you ignore IM/XMPP clients (they're not the same), fact is, RIM did it first with BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). With BBM, you get end-to-end messaging between BlackBerry phones, with no limitations on the lengths of messages. You get a typing notice, delivery notice, as well as a read notice. You can transfer files, pictures, and video between devices. BBM is also very tightly integrated into the OS, more so than any other platform. It requires no set up on the part of the user, all they need to do is exchange PIN numbers with their friends. No signup, nothing, it just works. Moreover, it allows developers to incorporate into their own apps, so they can provide in-app chat capability, as well as app-to-app communication ability (e.g. a multiplayer game initiated with you and a BBM friend). What's even better is that if that friend doesn't have the particular app/game installed, you can invite them to download it. When you go to invite a friend to use the app with you, it will only show you BBM contacts with that app installed (i.e. BBM knows what apps your contacts have). It's a pretty powerful setup, especially when combined with push notifications. It is leagues ahead of what XMPP can provide. Just ask WhatsApp or Kik. RIM misstep (amongst MANY) is that they didn't translate this to other devices. They have delayed BBM on the PlayBook while they updated their infrastructure to allow 1 user to use BBM on multiple devices with multiple PINs. They're fixed this a while ago, and will release it for BlackBerry 10. They also don't have a desktop client available for public use. So while iMessage is definitely an improvement over SMS (pretty much anything is), it still has a lot of catching up to do to BBM. Old school BlackBerry OS is a pretty shitty system, but they did get BBM right. Apparently, it's going to be very improved for BlackBerry 10. Here's hoping it is. Edit: Reading some other comments here, I realize that iMessage's "innovation" is that when you send a text message to a phone number, it checks to see if they use iMessage too, and sends it that way instead. While that's cool, it's by no means revolutionary. Furthermore, you're still shackled by the limitations of SMS messages. That can be good, can be bad. Finally, I'm unclear of what happens when you're on your Mac or iPad: do you iMessage someone using their phone number still? Is that the unique ID?

spullara 14y ago
Reply to your Edit: You can have a phone number and multiple email addresses associated with your iMessage account. It really is quite a great thing at scale that would be almost pointless as a startup.
orta 14y ago
The main UUID for an iMessage account is your Apple ID email address, but each account on iMessage can be hooked up to multiple email addresses also. For example if your contact for someone has a phone number and email addresses it will check for the phone number, then check for the associated email addresses. On my mac I receive all my iMessages because I set my reply to address to be one of those email addresses on the phone/pad. And yes, you can iMessage someone to their phone number form your computer / iPad. iMessage supports all of the end-to-end messaging features above, but doesn't support letting devs use the messaging function other than being able to send one-off messages with attached photos / movies in iOS. Apple has something more like Xbox Live for doing in-app voice chat / messages (GameKit).

spullara 14y ago

Reply to your Edit: You can have a phone number and multiple email addresses associated with your iMessage account. It really is quite a great thing at scale that would be almost pointless as a startup.

orta 14y ago

The main UUID for an iMessage account is your Apple ID email address, but each account on iMessage can be hooked up to multiple email addresses also. For example if your contact for someone has a phone number and email addresses it will check for the phone number, then check for the associated email addresses. On my mac I receive all my iMessages because I set my reply to address to be one of those email addresses on the phone/pad. And yes, you can iMessage someone to their phone number form your computer / iPad. iMessage supports all of the end-to-end messaging features above, but doesn't support letting devs use the messaging function other than being able to send one-off messages with attached photos / movies in iOS. Apple has something more like Xbox Live for doing in-app voice chat / messages (GameKit).