Free imo.im IM Client Beta Adds Morse Code & Sleep Scheduling Features

by the BerryReview Team on November 16th, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Posted in Free Software News Utilities

 

Imo.im has been updating the BlackBerry beta of their cross platform IM client for awhile now. We mentioned their last major release that added location sharing and now they let us know that they have two new tricks. The latest release v1.1.1 adds the ability to chat using morse code which converts your message into vibrations. That could be quite a bit of vibrating during a meeting so I am not sure how great of an idea it is. The second option is on the other side of the spectrum allowing for sleep scheduling. It lets you set your schedule so you don’t have to worry about getting morse code vibrations or other messages while you are in bed.

You can pick up the IMO app directly at imo.im/blackberry.

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IM+ for the BlackBerry PlayBook Finally Available! Multi Network Instant Messaging

 

The saga of Shape Services trying to get their IM+ multi network instant messaging client approved for the PlayBook is finally over. The app has been stuck in App World approval pending limbo for almost 6 months! Now it looks like Shape and RIM finally came to an agreement and released IM+ for BlackBerry PlayBook users. Here are some of the main features:

• IM+ lets you  chat in Windows Live Messenger/MSN, Skype, Facebook, Google Talk, Yahoo! , AOL/AIM/iChat, ICQ, Jabber and MySpace from one application.
• The app also supports multiple accounts per service and stores chat history for each conversation on device.
• Both landscape and portrait screen orientations are supported.

You can pick up IM+ for the BlackBerry PlayBook now for a special introductory price of $9.99 in App World. Hopefully Shape will consider lowering the price or releasing an ad supported version if there is sufficient demand.

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IMO Beta Multi Network IM Client Updated with Location Sharing & More

IMO has been doing a great job of adding features to their multi network IM client. Their client supports AIM, Gtalk, Skype, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Hyves, VKontakte and Jabber at once with loads of features. They just updated their beta once again this week with some new features including:

Check out the free app at imo.im/blackberry.

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IM+ for PlayBook Stuck in App World Approval Limbo for 3+ Months

This is really starting to get a bit ridiculous. We have told you in the past that Shape Services IM+ has been waiting for approval in App World since June 2nd of this year. The last time we mentioned it the app had been waiting for approval for 2+ months and RIM finally responded that it would be approved within 5-10 business days. That was 15 days ago. I get that RIM might be a bit busy with all of the BlackBerry 7 device launches but this is getting ridiculous. It has been well over 3+ months since the app was submitted to App World and VP level execs at RIM have been involved.

This is truly a shame since RIM is going to such lengths to encourage BlackBerry development and entice more developers to create BlackBerry apps. Shape is one of the most well known BlackBerry developers since 2003 and they are waiting months for their app to be approved. Its not even like the app competes with a RIM native app or does not perform a useful function. It is a multi platform chat client for the PlayBook. In other words an app that would probably easily become one of the best selling apps on the PlayBook.

I pinged some of my contacts at RIM about the issue and hopefully this time they will finally get it approved. Still from what we have heard from Shape this has already been taken pretty high up at RIM. Maybe RIM is going for a record of "Longest time we can make a developer wait for their app to be approved" for the 2011 BlackBerry Developer Challenge…

Thanks Del for pointing out the update from Shape’s Maria Dyatlova

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PlayJabber is a PlayBook Jabber Client for Gtalk, Facebook, & More

While IM+ is still waiting for their PlayBook IM+ client to be approved Arturo managed to sneak PlayJabber by the App World reviewers. PlayJabber is a bare bones Jabber chat client for the BlackBerry PlayBook. In case you don’t know what Jabber is then let me explain. Jabber is an open source standards for real time chat that many companies like Google, Facebook, and LiveJournal have use to power their chat clients.

In short that means you can use PlayJabber to chat on Google Talk, Facebook, and LiveJournal from your PlayBook. I cannot promise it will work for you but Google Talk worked for me.

You can pick up PlayJabber in App World for a reasonable $1.99

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Shape Hears From RIM on PlayBook IM+ – Approval Coming Within 2 Weeks

We told you about IM+ for the BlackBerry PlayBook and RIM’s drawn out approval process. IM+ for the BlackBerry PlayBook has not been in the App World Review queue for over 2 months prompting Shape to speak out. Due to all the buzz created by them speaking out they finally heard from RIM’s Tyler Lessard, VP of Global Alliances and Developer Relations. He said that IM+ did not have a EULA (End User License Agreement) and admitted this should have been told to Shape much earlier. He said he will try to speed up the approval process for the next update with the EULA.

Here is the update Shape posted on Google+ (Thanks TD!)

Our management just had a call with Tyler Lessard, VP, Global Alliances and Developer Relations. Tyler pointed that app doesn’t have a EULA; this of course should have been noticed and reported earlier by AppWorld’s review team. Anyway Tyler confirmed he will try to speed up the approval process when we submit an update. We will surely do this ASAP.

Bla1ze over at CrackBerry pointed out more details about the situation posted on Shapes blog:

OK, as I wrote in my previous post, RIM is an organization where a lot of nice people are working.
Shape’s Development Head Alex and myself just had a talk with Tyler Lessard, RIM’s VP, Global Alliances and Developer Relations.
Tyler was really friendly and helpful and we have now a hope that IM+ for Playbook will be approved within two weeks or so. We understand that to approve such an complex app can take the same time or more as the development of IM+ for Playbook itself. Just as remember, the app is now for two months in the testing queue.
And the best of the talk: after years of our requests to RIM we got from Tyler a promise to consider BlackBerry Push usage for IM+. It would make user experience on the BlackBerry platform the same kind of beautiful like on iOS.
Please continue to follow-up the story, it will really help to make things done. And to celebrate the moment we will offer to our friends from crackberry.com 25 free licenses of IM+ Pro for BlackBerry right now and 25 free licenses of IM+ for Playbook after release.

It is really cool of Shape and CrackBerry to be giving away licenses but I really wish it would not take up to two weeks for this app to be available for the BlackBerry PlayBook. A EULA seems like such a petty reason to hold back an app especially after 2 months. Still at least now we know we are getting a native IM app for the PlayBook!

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PlayBook IM+ App Held “Under Review” By RIM for 2 Months

I am not sure what to make of this one. When Luis first told me about it earlier today I did a double take. I know that Amail was “under review” perpetually but that app was at least a clear violation of the SDK license that says you cannot create an email app. Sad but at least understandable. Things get a lot weirder when it comes to long time BlackBerry developer Shape Services. We found out back in mid April that IM+ multi network instant messaging client was coming to the PlayBook and even had an approximate price point at $19.95 along with a May scheduled release.

The thing is Shape submitted IM+ to RIM in App World back on May 19th. That is just shy of 2 months ago! I realize that it might take up to a week to get an app reviewed but 2 months without hearing back from RIM is ridiculous. When Luis pointed it out this morning I immediately reached out to RIM but I have not heard a word back. I was hoping they would simply say it was a mistake and the app would be available. No such luck.

This has prompted Shape to post about it on Google+ throwing their hands in the air. RIM literally cannot allow these key apps to fall through the cracks like this. Even if they are not going to approve it at least communicate with a long time BlackBerry dev. I have been hearing rumblings for awhile that RIM is working on streamlining the App World review house team but maybe they simply need to get off their lazy… I know I submitted two apps for other devs that took almost 2 weeks to get approved but at least that was back before the device launched. With IM+, an app that could really do well on the PlayBook, this is simply unacceptable.

This is why I am very against RIM’s new concept of keeping App World as the only way to get apps on the BlackBerry PlayBook without the user unfriendly sideloading process. THIS is one of many reasons why RIM should simply allow apps to install through the browser. Its one of the best features of BlackBerry phones that they have denied the PlayBook.

So RIM the ball is in your court. Even if we are only hearing one side of the story this shouldn’t even be an issue in the first place. RIM justifies using App World as the only platform for distributing PlayBook apps to help developers centralize. It wasn’t meant to hold developers hostage, stop them from beta testing, and make developing for the PlayBook a hassle…

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

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Shape IM+ Pro & IM+ Talk Price Lowered to $9.99

 

Shape Services IM+ Pro and IM+ Talk have always carried a high price tag of $39.99 and $29.99 making this a great deal. Shape let us know they have dropped their prices for both apps to a much more reasonable $9.99. In case you don’t know IM+ Pro enables you to chat in AIM/iChat, MSN/Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, Google Talk, MySpace IM, Facebook, and Skype along with Twitter support. IM+ Talk on the other hand lets you have walkie talkie style Skype calls over 3G and Wi-Fi .

You can pick up both of the apps at their new $9.99 price point in the store:

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Updated BlackBerry IM Clients v2.5.85 Found in Leaked OS 7

 

You can sometimes count on OS leaks to bring some fun surprises to the party. The latest leak of OS 7.0.0.176 for the unreleased BlackBerry Bold 9900 brought us some new IM clients. Thanks to the team at BBH-Plus we have Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger updated to v2.5.85. They setup some OTA download and desktop download links along with OTA links but have only tested this version with OS 6+. Still you should only install this if you are willing to deal with the consequences if it goes bad…

Thanks to everyone that sent this in via BBEmpire

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Giveaway: 10 Copies of IM All in One Messenger For BlackBerry

If you have not heard BerryReview turns 4 this month and throughout the month we will be doing some giveaways with the help of our BlackBerry community friends. Todays giveaway comes from the folks over at www.ShapeServices.com. If you are not familiar with their name you may have heard of their popular Apps such as IM+ which is a cross platform messaging available for BlackBerry and will soon come to the BlackBerry PlayBook.  ShapeServices app’s simply work and provide a nice friendly UI design.   Check out their website for more information as well as free trials of their products at this link.

We have some great apps to give to you our readers thanks to the guys over at shapesevices. To start we are giving 15 of you to win a prize. 10 will win a copy of IM+ and five lucky winners will win IM+ Talk .

Not familiar with this app?

IM+ Features include:

IM+ All in One is available for purchase one time fee $39.95 at through their website or through app world.

Giveaway: For a chance to win a copy for your BlackBerry device simply leave a comment, (no double commenting allowed). The winners will be announced later this month, comments must be left before Tuesday June 7.

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