I’ve been dreaming of a native instant messaging app for iOS for the longest time, so when iMessage was announced I was extremely pleased. iMessage is Apple’s foray into the messaging scene. With the expensive rates Canadians pay for SMS, iMessages is going to make a massive dent into the lucrative SMS coffers of the ‘Big 3’ carriers in Canada.
iMessage is coming in iOS 5, and will be free for all iOS users. Currently, its been available to test for developers using iOS 5 beta.
Here are the features of iMessage:
– Send unlimited text messages over 3G and WiFi via any iOS device
– Send text, photos, videos, locations, contacts
– Group chat
– Delivery receipts, optional read receipts, typing indication
– Encryption for messages
– Continue conversations from one iOS to another
– Built into the Messages app
– Set multiple email addresses to receive iMessages
My first experience with iMessage, was an eye opener. I wasn’t sure how to use the damn thing. Eventually, I discovered iMessage was built right in to the Messages app. This is important. No more launching a separate app for messaging, like WhatsApp or BBM on Blackberry. Integration with the Messages app is brilliant. So off I went testing it with some iOS 5 beta friends.
Once You Start an iMessage, It Replaces the Option to Send SMS
When you attempt to send a message to any user, iMessage automatically detects if they are on iOS 5, and seamlessly switches from SMS to iMessage. Once that happens–you will never have the option to SMS that user unless you turn off iMessage in Settings. So if you previously texted back and forth with a friend 100 times a day, that would eat out of your SMS plan. The moment you both start an iMessage, SMS literally disappears forever.
Left: iMessage (blue); Right:Â SMS (green).
How will iMessage eat into the profits of the ‘Big 3’ carriers? Many ways. Think of the people who text the most–teenagers that send over 100 texts per day. Once a group of friends all utilize iOS 5, texting plans will no longer be necessary. Even texting internationally will now be free. Pay As You Go users on iOS 5 will be smiling right about now too. All for free, on all of your devices thanks to Apple. With rumours of Google starting their own built in messaging service, carriers should be worried.
Once iOS 5 will be released this Fall, and iPhones are updated to the latest firmware, the gradual decline of SMS and rise of iMessage will be the dagger into the hearts of the ‘Big 3’ carriers. Third party apps like WhatsApp, Kik, and Beluga are great–but it’s a pain to get friends to install apps on their phones. With the seamless integration of iMessage, that chore is eliminated.
Are you looking forward to iMessage? What is your texting plan right now?
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I’m certainly looking forward to iMessaging.  I currently subscribe to an unlimited texting plan from Rogers but it is most certainly overkill with the amount of texting I do monthly.  Once I go to iOS 5 I see no reason to even have a texting plan anymore.
I’m certainly looking forward to iMessaging.  I currently subscribe to an unlimited texting plan from Rogers but it is most certainly overkill with the amount of texting I do monthly.  Once I go to iOS 5 I see no reason to even have a texting plan anymore.
I’m certainly looking forward to iMessaging.  I currently subscribe to an unlimited texting plan from Rogers but it is most certainly overkill with the amount of texting I do monthly.  Once I go to iOS 5 I see no reason to even have a texting plan anymore.
I’m certainly looking forward to iMessaging.  I currently subscribe to an unlimited texting plan from Rogers but it is most certainly overkill with the amount of texting I do monthly.  Once I go to iOS 5 I see no reason to even have a texting plan anymore.
They’ll find a way to still make their free money…
They’ll find a way to still make their free money…
First, an observation: this isn’t a dagger. As long as you text with anybody who has a blackberry, android or feature phone, you’ll still require an SMS plan. Otherwise you end up paying 0.25 per message when you want to talk to someone outside your circle. The carriers will either roll it into plans, or raise prices, and nothing will be gained.
Second, a question: how does imessage work internationally? I have data roaming off, naturally, so when I cross the border, do I lose iMessage functionality, or will I have to pay roaming fees of some kind?
First, an observation: this isn’t a dagger. As long as you text with anybody who has a blackberry, android or feature phone, you’ll still require an SMS plan. Otherwise you end up paying 0.25 per message when you want to talk to someone outside your circle. The carriers will either roll it into plans, or raise prices, and nothing will be gained.
Second, a question: how does imessage work internationally? I have data roaming off, naturally, so when I cross the border, do I lose iMessage functionality, or will I have to pay roaming fees of some kind?
I’m looking forward to it too as I have a lot of family in England. Currently I use WhatsApp to msg them and it works great, but having an integrated iMessage will be even better.
However, I don’t think it will have a huge impact on RoBelUs. Think of all the phones out there, particularly in the hands of teenagers, and they’re usually cheaper non-smartphones made by different manufacturers (LG, Samsung, Nokia, etc). To communicate amongst these devices you’re forced to use SMS, plus you would need to have a data plan to use iMessage which is a big expense to a poor teenager!
I’m looking forward to it too as I have a lot of family in England. Currently I use WhatsApp to msg them and it works great, but having an integrated iMessage will be even better.
However, I don’t think it will have a huge impact on RoBelUs. Think of all the phones out there, particularly in the hands of teenagers, and they’re usually cheaper non-smartphones made by different manufacturers (LG, Samsung, Nokia, etc). To communicate amongst these devices you’re forced to use SMS, plus you would need to have a data plan to use iMessage which is a big expense to a poor teenager!
The criminals at Rogers will figure out another way to get that money back.  You can guarantee on that!  I can’t wait to drop my texting plan, and giving Rogers the big FU!
You’re funny Gary. You must have next to zero friends on Blackberry or Android. Unfortunately for me I’m still hoping for a really good cross platform messaging service. I’m sure I’ll probably end up using iMessage exclusively with my iPhone buddies but it still sucks having more then a few messaging services on my phone.
The criminals at Rogers will figure out another way to get that money back.  You can guarantee on that!  I can’t wait to drop my texting plan, and giving Rogers the big FU!
Good question. What happens if we cross the border and start roaming? I always toggle my data off so I don’t get charged. I would hope that iMessage would switch to SMS if no data connection is present instead of having to manually turn it off.
If it doesn’t do this already, maybe someone with a dev account can suggest this to Apple.
You’re funny Gary. You must have next to zero friends on Blackberry or Android. Unfortunately for me I’m still hoping for a really good cross platform messaging service. I’m sure I’ll probably end up using iMessage exclusively with my iPhone buddies but it still sucks having more then a few messaging services on my phone.
The carriers will just increase the cost of the data plans to make up for the loss in text message revenues.
Good question. What happens if we cross the border and start roaming? I always toggle my data off so I don’t get charged. I would hope that iMessage would switch to SMS if no data connection is present instead of having to manually turn it off.
If it doesn’t do this already, maybe someone with a dev account can suggest this to Apple.
The carriers will just increase the cost of the data plans to make up for the loss in text message revenues.
I’m sure this has been said by others on other sites but there is one problem with iMessage, BBM and whatever google comes up with that will keep SMS working for the time being. They are platform dependent. SMS isn’t. If apple, rim and google truly cared about helping consumers they would work together to make an open standard and all abide by it. Their real purpose is to lock people into their platform (which I understand). Dont get me wrong. I’m looking forward to iOS 5 and have friends that have iOS devices that I’ll be communicating with. I also have a lot of friends that have blackberrys and some that have android. For them, I’ll need to use whatsapp or else SMS.
I will say this much though. The seamless integration into Messages.app is a great touch.
I’m sure this has been said by others on other sites but there is one problem with iMessage, BBM and whatever google comes up with that will keep SMS working for the time being. They are platform dependent. SMS isn’t. If apple, rim and google truly cared about helping consumers they would work together to make an open standard and all abide by it. Their real purpose is to lock people into their platform (which I understand). Dont get me wrong. I’m looking forward to iOS 5 and have friends that have iOS devices that I’ll be communicating with. I also have a lot of friends that have blackberrys and some that have android. For them, I’ll need to use whatsapp or else SMS.
I will say this much though. The seamless integration into Messages.app is a great touch.
Only thing that’s annoying is that if the person you are messaging doesn’t have data (3G), they won’t get the message until they connect to wifi. The reason I use SMS is because it’s more or less instant.
It would be nice if you could turn off iMessage per contact.
The criminals at Rogers will figure out another way to get that money back.  You can guarantee on that!  I can’t wait to drop my texting plan, and giving Rogers the big FU!
Only thing that’s annoying is that if the person you are messaging doesn’t have data (3G), they won’t get the message until they connect to wifi. The reason I use SMS is because it’s more or less instant.
It would be nice if you could turn off iMessage per contact.
Great question, what will happen when we cross the border?
I do not think this is a bad thing for carriers, it’s more of a vicious circle for  customers, who will pay more at the end. Here is my point: first, an unlimited texting plan doesn’t cost much a month, it’s more the voice and data plan that are expensive. Second, since a lot of people will switch from text messaging to iMessaging, text message will decrease, but iMessage will increase, and since wi-fi is not available everywhere, a lot of people who are not subscribed to a data plan will have to (if you wanna receive your messages no matter where you are), therefore they will be saving the text message plan’s fees but will pay a new fee, which is more expensive.
You’re funny Gary. You must have next to zero friends on Blackberry or Android. Unfortunately for me I’m still hoping for a really good cross platform messaging service. I’m sure I’ll probably end up using iMessage exclusively with my iPhone buddies but it still sucks having more then a few messaging services on my phone.
Great question, what will happen when we cross the border?
The criminals at Rogers will figure out another way to get that money back.  You can guarantee on that!  I can’t wait to drop my texting plan, and giving Rogers the big FU!
I do not think this is a bad thing for carriers, it’s more of a vicious circle for  customers, who will pay more at the end. Here is my point: first, an unlimited texting plan doesn’t cost much a month, it’s more the voice and data plan that are expensive. Second, since a lot of people will switch from text messaging to iMessaging, text message will decrease, but iMessage will increase, and since wi-fi is not available everywhere, a lot of people who are not subscribed to a data plan will have to (if you wanna receive your messages no matter where you are), therefore they will be saving the text message plan’s fees but will pay a new fee, which is more expensive.
Good question. What happens if we cross the border and start roaming? I always toggle my data off so I don’t get charged. I would hope that iMessage would switch to SMS if no data connection is present instead of having to manually turn it off.
If it doesn’t do this already, maybe someone with a dev account can suggest this to Apple.
Well I would still use SMS for the 50% of friends who don’t have an iDevice.
But I am curious for those with an iPhone iOS 5 but don’t have data all the time… Like prepaid customers. Wifi at home but SMS away. I hope that it would switch to SMS or have an option to force the message to send as SMS instead
Well I would still use SMS for the 50% of friends who don’t have an iDevice.
But I am curious for those with an iPhone iOS 5 but don’t have data all the time… Like prepaid customers. Wifi at home but SMS away. I hope that it would switch to SMS or have an option to force the message to send as SMS instead
Ditto I might just go down to 250 a month for those few texted from non iPhone.
You’re funny Gary. You must have next to zero friends on Blackberry or Android. Unfortunately for me I’m still hoping for a really good cross platform messaging service. I’m sure I’ll probably end up using iMessage exclusively with my iPhone buddies but it still sucks having more then a few messaging services on my phone.
The carriers will just increase the cost of the data plans to make up for the loss in text message revenues.
I’m sure this has been said by others on other sites but there is one problem with iMessage, BBM and whatever google comes up with that will keep SMS working for the time being. They are platform dependent. SMS isn’t. If apple, rim and google truly cared about helping consumers they would work together to make an open standard and all abide by it. Their real purpose is to lock people into their platform (which I understand). Dont get me wrong. I’m looking forward to iOS 5 and have friends that have iOS devices that I’ll be communicating with. I also have a lot of friends that have blackberrys and some that have android. For them, I’ll need to use whatsapp or else SMS.
I will say this much though. The seamless integration into Messages.app is a great touch.
Ditto I might just go down to 250 a month for those few texted from non iPhone.
Good question. What happens if we cross the border and start roaming? I always toggle my data off so I don’t get charged. I would hope that iMessage would switch to SMS if no data connection is present instead of having to manually turn it off.
If it doesn’t do this already, maybe someone with a dev account can suggest this to Apple.
The carriers will just increase the cost of the data plans to make up for the loss in text message revenues.
Only thing that’s annoying is that if the person you are messaging doesn’t have data (3G), they won’t get the message until they connect to wifi. The reason I use SMS is because it’s more or less instant.
It would be nice if you could turn off iMessage per contact.
Great question, what will happen when we cross the border?
I’m sure this has been said by others on other sites but there is one problem with iMessage, BBM and whatever google comes up with that will keep SMS working for the time being. They are platform dependent. SMS isn’t. If apple, rim and google truly cared about helping consumers they would work together to make an open standard and all abide by it. Their real purpose is to lock people into their platform (which I understand). Dont get me wrong. I’m looking forward to iOS 5 and have friends that have iOS devices that I’ll be communicating with. I also have a lot of friends that have blackberrys and some that have android. For them, I’ll need to use whatsapp or else SMS.
I will say this much though. The seamless integration into Messages.app is a great touch.
I do not think this is a bad thing for carriers, it’s more of a vicious circle for  customers, who will pay more at the end. Here is my point: first, an unlimited texting plan doesn’t cost much a month, it’s more the voice and data plan that are expensive. Second, since a lot of people will switch from text messaging to iMessaging, text message will decrease, but iMessage will increase, and since wi-fi is not available everywhere, a lot of people who are not subscribed to a data plan will have to (if you wanna receive your messages no matter where you are), therefore they will be saving the text message plan’s fees but will pay a new fee, which is more expensive.
Only thing that’s annoying is that if the person you are messaging doesn’t have data (3G), they won’t get the message until they connect to wifi. The reason I use SMS is because it’s more or less instant.
It would be nice if you could turn off iMessage per contact.
Well I would still use SMS for the 50% of friends who don’t have an iDevice.
But I am curious for those with an iPhone iOS 5 but don’t have data all the time… Like prepaid customers. Wifi at home but SMS away. I hope that it would switch to SMS or have an option to force the message to send as SMS instead
Great question, what will happen when we cross the border?
Ditto I might just go down to 250 a month for those few texted from non iPhone.
I do not think this is a bad thing for carriers, it’s more of a vicious circle for  customers, who will pay more at the end. Here is my point: first, an unlimited texting plan doesn’t cost much a month, it’s more the voice and data plan that are expensive. Second, since a lot of people will switch from text messaging to iMessaging, text message will decrease, but iMessage will increase, and since wi-fi is not available everywhere, a lot of people who are not subscribed to a data plan will have to (if you wanna receive your messages no matter where you are), therefore they will be saving the text message plan’s fees but will pay a new fee, which is more expensive.
Well I would still use SMS for the 50% of friends who don’t have an iDevice.
But I am curious for those with an iPhone iOS 5 but don’t have data all the time… Like prepaid customers. Wifi at home but SMS away. I hope that it would switch to SMS or have an option to force the message to send as SMS instead
Ditto I might just go down to 250 a month for those few texted from non iPhone.