Review: Palringo Instant Messenger
Author: Jeff Noble | Posted under: Reviews, Social NetworkingTags: free apps, instant messenger, native apps, Social Networking
Palringo Instant Messenger v1.1 | Published by Palringo Limited | Via App Store | Free | Released: 8-12-08
Overview
While there are several chat apps available on the iPhone these days (AIM, Facebook, Latest Chatty, Rooms, MobileChat, etc.) I am pretty sold on Palringo Instant Messenger. After using it for a few days, its ease of use, integration with other services and ability to send voice is really nice. I’m not a IM-er by nature, but this has made me rather chatty.
Functionality
PIM allows you to connect multiple IM services. Version 1.1 includes the following:
- Windows Live
- Yahoo!
- AOL
- Gadu-Gadu
- ICQ
- Jabber
- Google Talk
- iChat
The pop-up button says “Push and hold to talk.” Once you do this, it sends your voice file to your buddy. They will see it as a “play” triangle icon. Testing it back and forth caused a lot of oooo-ing and aahh-ing. The audio quality is terrific.
Palringo also allow you to create and join chat groups which is a really nice feature.
Review
I’m impressed. Palringo does exactly what it sets out to do - provide you with a full-featured IM app for the iPhone. I had a few issues getting my buddies to be able to send me sound, though they were able to hear mine just fine. Still working on that.
The only thing I don’t like is that when you leave the app, you are essentially signing off of all networks. That’s kind of a bummer if you have to answer the phone or respond to a text. However, relaunching Palringo does save your last open chat sessions (and you can have multiple ones open simultaneously). Having Palringo open apparently disables your iPhone’s auto-off feature, because it stays open when you leave it alone.
Another tidbit, when I signed onto iChat on my desktop, I was given an alert that I was signed into AOL in two different locations.
Palringo also has a nice desktop app for your computer - Mac or PC.
Summary
Palringo has quickly become a welcome addition to my iPhone app arsenal. It’s great for a quick check-in with friends and very useful for on-the-road IMs for productivity purposes. Whether you’re mobile or in front of your computer, Palringo has an app for you.
Usability: 4 / 5
Value: 5 / 5
Utility: 4 / 5
Aesthetics: 4 / 5
Only thing that sucks about it, is that there is no smiles.. Why can’t they include them?
G on August 24th, 2008 at 5:50 am
I’ve tried a lot of the apps and for what it does it is the one of the most solid of them. Great interface, functionality, and features. Definitely reccomended.
Mark on August 24th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
@G: Great thought… where are the smilies?
Jeff Noble on August 24th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
One thing I did notice is that it doesn’t display when your aim buddies are idle. Not a huge deal, but it has caused me a few problems. However, the problems are mostly like due my alcoholism, and not Palringo.
Mark on August 26th, 2008 at 12:20 am
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