When I first heard about IM+, my first thought was “Oh great, another IM client”. Then I loaded it up on my Torch, and within a few hours, I deleted my longtime IM client, and haven’t looked back since. There was a learning curve, but what do you expect with an app that has more features than you're used to? However, the learning curve is a small one, it took just an hour or so to get familiar with all the features that Shape Services managed to fit into IM+.
My first look at IM+, was an “Aha!” moment, the layout just makes sense. With a rather pleasant interface color pallet, clearly defined sections, and no distracting (or useless) bells and whistles, its easy to see why so many people love IM+.
Just being able to chat on your favorite IM with your BlackBerry is a very cool thing, but if you use more than one client, getting them all on your phone can eat up a lot of space on your Berry. Not to mention the strain that the cpu will suffer, and the battery, too. IM+ has a fairly low impact on memory, cpu, and battery. My battery DPH (discharge per hour rate, expressed as a percentage) was around 17% before uninstalling all my IM apps, and 14% after installing IM+, and uninstalling my other IM clients.
Now, my experience with IM+ is not all roses. For some reason, after installing, I noticed half of my GPS enabled apps are no longer able to pull a GPS fix. Foursquare, Google Maps, Trapster, and SocialScope, are not able to pull a GPS fix. Telenav, Facebook, Poynt, and Scanner for BlackBerry, are still working properly. I tested this by uninstalling IM+, after uninstalling, the affected apps worked properly. After reinstalling, the affected apps ceased working. I have not had time to look for a fix before writing this review, so there may be a fix, or my issue might be unique.
The only other gripe I have with IM+, is that it will not load up, and sign in, when my Berry boots up. Lame! When I have to reboot my phone, I want all my communication apps to start up automagically. I hate plowing through my apps to start them up, if I want it to start up on boot up, it should have an option to allow this. (You paying attention Google? Latitude for Google Maps, helloooooo?)
All in all, I am happy with IM+. I can put up with the whole “auto sign in” thing, and I WILL find a way to get GPS working properly, so I am not giving up on this otherwise fantastic app.
With support for most of the popular IM services, Twitter and the new Neighbors service, this is one darned useful IM client. The easy to navigate, and easy on the eyes UI, is very refreshing to use, with a minimum of learning involved.
Final conclusion:
IM+ from Shape Services is definitely on my must have list, and at $9.99 US, is worth every penny.
Check out IM+'s features:
Chat in AIM®/iChat, MSN®/WLM, Yahoo!®, ICQ®, Jabber®, Google Talk, MySpaceIM, Facebook and even Skype* with no cost per message.
Subscribe and enjoy unique speech recognition option. Dictate your messages, instantly transcribe them and send to your friends!
NEW! Neighbors: find new friends nearby. Neighbors offers a new dimension of communication in IM+ by providing users the opportunity to find new real life connections and friends with common interests.
NEW! VKontakte & Yandex IM services are now supported - cheers to our users from Russia!
You may access your Blackberry IM history in IM+ Web Messenger at https://plus.im from your desktop computer.
Invite your friends on MSN, Skype*, AIM, and ICQ to group chat and enjoy group conversations.
Twitter functionality: View friends' timeline, favorites, direct messages and replies. Post pictures and voice messages to your timeline!
Stay online in IM Push mode and save the battery life. In IM Push mode IM+ is not running, though you remain online and continue receiving IMs as e-mails pushed to your BlackBerry® Inbox. You can reply to them right away. Send files, photos and voicemails without additional charges. Adios, MMS!
Integration with BlackBerry® Inbox for OS 4.6 and higher. The last received IMs are placed in BlackBerry® message inbox and you get immediate notification of incoming messages on the BlackBerry® home screen.
Translate messages into English, Swedish, French, German, Italian, Russia, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese, with integrated online translator.
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*This product uses Skype™ but is not endorsed or certified by Skype.
