Anyway to seperate the aol software from the 7100 install and get into a 72xx series handheld.

I paid extra for the proper keyboard, but I don't think we should be punished and have to pay for verichat on top of it.

$40 per year is expensive.

Try one of the free chat softwares such as BlackChat ICQ, virca, wlIRC, jmIRC, or maybe one of the cheaper $10/$20-per-year programs such as IM+ ... or one-time payment software such as BerryVines Messenger.

RIM purchased Oz software to be preinstalled on all 7100's. And it uses the SMS method of sending instant messages. It is much less reliable than Verichat.

Thankfully, the 7100 instant messenger software is limited enough (I find it just has Mickey Mouse level of basic functionality, compared to Verichat's powerful features), that many third-party IM software provide superior capabilities and more features than the 7100 instant messenger anyway...

So wait, if I had a rogers 7100r and used the oz software, i would get dinged for SMS messages?