IM client bugs
 

Hello-

I've found another IM client bug. If for some reason you cannot connect to AIM, and it times out, it'll display something like "Communications Error" and go away - however several times it just stays there, and no button will remove it. The first few times I was forced to power off the phone, and this time I tried ALT-ESC to bring up the active applications, which allowed me to switch to the Home Screen. However if I want to use the IM client again, I have to power cycle the phone.

Also, it will not load my usual screen name that has about 75 contacts - it just hangs and displays the error above. Or sometimes it will connect, but show only one contact.

And, this is a missing crucial feature and not a bug - there are no timestamps! What's the point of being able to save a conversation when you have no idea when it took place?

And let's not forget...I IMed myself once from my computer, and it took about 10 seconds to reach my 7100. I replied, and it took about 2 seconds to reach my computer. I replied on the computer and all future attempts took THREE HOURS!!! for it to reach my 7100.

I'm really annoyed about the poor quality of the IM client. It's so full of bugs, it's on the edge of being false advertising.

TM

I am starting to aggree.

My IM'ing has turned into sms's. Were I basically just use AOL to tell my friends to call me.

You think this can be fixed in a software update.

Why is it that the Sidekick can do this so well. What is misisng from the 7100

If it wasn't for the smaller body, I'd be starting to think I should have bought a Sidekick II instead of a 7100t.

You know what the truth is? One of the primary reasons I bought the 7100 was because I figured it was designed for business use, which in my mind meant *reliability*.

Wow, was I wrong.

TM

You guys need to settle down! :P

It's true this IM client isn't the coolest but I also think it has to do with the gateway that Tmo is running through... it would be interesting to know how the SKII is running networkwise and see if th BB is the same or handicapped by some RIM thing.

No, there isn't anything wrong really with the OZ gateway at T-Mobile. The problem is that T-Mobile's spec for the client sucked, and it was built to order!

The server is a good product, T-Mobile just fscked it up by making the bearer SMS for everything, instead of as a failover mode if GPRS wasn't available.

Shame on them.

The SKII has a native AIM (and Yahoo!) client on the device that makes an honest-to-God IP connection to oscar.

Though I will stand by my statements that someone at RIM really needs to learn user interface design before they release another product. The BlackBerry UI is horrifying.

I stand corrected - a simple power cycle won't fix the problem I described in my initial post. You have to fully reboot the phone (take the battery out for a few seconds).

There's no excuse for that. I'll be waiting for that updated IM client... :D

TM

all about the money... :)

they say they have horror stories for users with a Treo and IM's... $600-$1500 overages.

I can't wait until I get my next bill.

I fully expect over-charges for SMS messages, but since they haven't fullfilled their end of the contract, it doesn't matter anyway. I wont be paying a thing.

As far as I can tell, the 7100t IM client is made by a contractor for T-Mobile, and it has nothing to do with RIM.

Contact Tmobile and blame them :)

Use Webmessenger like the rest of us in the mean time :)

I've actually gone BACK to the built-in client after using webmessenger and realizing that for some reason, it can't d/l my whole buddy list, and it doesn't always list who's online correctly. The built-in client seems now to respond without delays, at least for me. knocking on wood...

OZ wrote it for T-Mobile, AFAIK.

Well if you think the Sidekick is good Email pager ... then good luck. It has a battery life of 2.5 days. You know what that means ... lucky to get a day out of it. Like the last one you had to carry several battery to last a day with the Sidekick 1.

My Blackberry last for a week or more. I have to say I do not use the phone part but very heavy email all day long.

Besides I do not think Sidekick is Push email ... I could be wrong but I think the fist was that way.

Vinnie

Well, if you're trying to help the 7100, bringing up battery life is not a good way to do it. ;)

Their website claims "up to 192 hours standby time" and "4 hours talk time". I've been frequently recharging mine since I can't afford to "test" the battery and risk being without a phone, but others have been saying they're lucky to get an hour's worth of talk time, and a "day's worth" of messaging before they have to recharge - a far cry from what BB claims.

I think some of the Sidekick's email is push - or something like that, while the rest is just 15 minute POP3 polls, similar to the way BB does it.

TM

I used my phone today for several long phone calls (over 30 minutes each), one incredibly long download (I was only getting 600 byte/sec transfer rate) and at the end of the day battery shows fully charged.

Did you swipe a Charm Cold Fusion energy cell from RIM R&D???

This must be the case because I can't even go half a day without having to charge mine even from minimal use.

My 7100t is still at or above 50% after 8 hours of use (40-50 emails/10-20 sent and upwards of 20 calls totalling 1.5+ hours). No complaints here.