I am considering posting a preliminary application in alpha/beta form that I have written for testing purposes and am wondering where the best place to post something like that would be and how interested members of this forum would be to test the app.

It is a peer-to-peer IM type application based on phone numbers. Instead of having buddy lists on the traditional online IM portals (AIM, Yahoo!, MSN), which can be difficult to deal with due to the the small BB screen and the constant messages received by buddies, you simply punch in the phone number of the recipient, the other smart phone rings (just like a regular voice call), and if the recipient want to answer and engage in an IM session, the recipient answers the phone. If the recipient chooses not to answer, he can simply ignore the ringing (just like a regular cell phone). You are not constrained to IMing with only those on your buddy list with my app - the entire world of phone numbers is available. The connection used is a direct TCP/IP connection between the two BBs - so there is no server in between. I'd appreciate any feedback and suggestions as to where the best place to upload it for testing would be (e.g., download.com?). Right now, I have written it for the 7290 and it works on Cingular's network in the U.S.

Thanks all.

Have you examined the options using Jabber and IMPS/WV?

Why would someone want to use this?

How about writing a WV client for BlackBerry instead? I'd settle for a great Jabber client, personally.

I already use PIN messaging and I like it as much as IMs

Thanks for the feedback. Some of the advantages of this app are that there are no large infrastructure changes needed to the current environment (such as an IMPS server) and no need to be logging into any type of server, such as a Jabber, AIM, Yahoo!, MSN or any other server to reach other people to place a text call. With those current IM systems, you can only chat with those people who are registered with a particular server. With the app I have developed, there is no server - you simply install the software on your BB and only need someone's phone number to call them and start a text call (the other person needs to install the software as well). There is no need for both of perople to register and log into a third party server in order to chat. You must have friends/contacts that you don't have on your IM buddy lists that from time to time you may want to have a text call with. All you need to do is dial their phone number - no logging into servers, etc. This opens your entire world of IM possibilities to anyone who has a phone number - not just people on your buddy list or who has registered with the same server/service.

This sounds like a great idea and app, this definitely would open up a world of possibilities, can't wait for the release.

The problem I see is it will tie up your phone line, limit you to one conversation and use up plan minutes. Most of us have unlimited data so that is not an issue with TCP/ip application...

Soapm,

Thanks for that comment. To be clear, this is indeed a TCP/IP based app - it establishes a direct TCP/IP connection between the two BBs. It does NOT use the voice channel and will not eat into your minutes at all. So it you have an unlimited data plan, you will be fine! You can be text calling one person and at the same time talking to someone else through your voice channel.

Cool idea. Curious to see it in action.

I agree!!

Will it be useable on other phones? My wife has a moto...

The technique will work on other phones, but I have only written it for now on the Blackberry OS and have not yet ported it or tested it on other platforms. Will keep you posted. I am working on getting it posted on a web site for so everyone can download it and test it and see how they like this type of communication. However, it only works, for now, on the Cingular network and I have only tested it on my 7290s, so testing would be limited.

Uh, okay, then its exactly like SMS, but requires third party software?

Not sure I understand why this is interesting.

So its not really like SMS its more like IM without servers since you have to install a third party software. And since all phones cant install software its not likely that it will be feasable to all.

Dawg,

That sounds right. To the extent you can't install the software on a cell phone, then it won't work. You are also right - it is more like IM than SMS since there is a real-time connection so there is a sense that the other side is engaged as opposed to SMS which seems to me just like email for cell phones.

I've posted a preliminary alpha version of the app for testing at RimRoad (called iMercury):

http://www.rimroad.com/software/rim1...-rim-rim1.html

I hope it does work for those of you who download it! Please be aware that this not yet a completely commercially robust application and I'm making it available, purely for testing and evaluation purposes, to gauge whether people may find it a useful new way to communicate. As such, I'd appreciate any and all feedback - whether negative or positive.

As I've said, I have only tested it on my Blackberry 7290s which are both on the Cingular network in the US and both have the same area codes. I currently have the Cingular unlimited data rate plan for both 7290s. Unfortunately, currently, the app does not support communications across different carriers. If you are having any trouble with the app (all four .alx files in the setup file need to be installed using the Blackberry Destkop Manager), please let me know (imercuryim@yahoo.com) and I'll do my best to help troubleshoot. Thanks again for any comments in advance. I hope you enjoy iMercury's new experience.

This thread has been quiet for awhile and there have been a number of downloads of the app since this thread ended. I am wondering whether anyone has any further thoughts on the text calling solution described above. The posted solution currently has only been tested on Cingular Orange (not Cingular Blue, yet . . ). Thanks!