While we gave IM+ a fairly positive review months ago, a lot of folks balked at the hefty price tag ($39.95), especially compared to free IM clients like Palringo.

Well, it looks like maybe the folks at ShapeServices, who make IM+, are going to do something about it as a "lite" version is floating around. More importantly, it appears to be free.

The main difference between "full" and "lite" is the latter doesn't have that "push" feature for IMs, GPS-MyLocation, Facebook chat or Twitter.  

However, it still supports AIM, Google Talk, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, Jabber and MySpace (hah!). In addition, there's a green bar on the top that scrolls about the "full version" with an arrow to download it. Overall, not to shabby.

What's curious is the build date: September 29, 2009 Version 7.1.1 Lite. So either this is an old build or perhaps IM+ abandoned the idea? We're also hearing an update for the paid version is coming soon. Thanks goes to CaliBoyPhillip for originally posting about about this version here.

For those with MS Tag, just scan and download below ;-)

Update:  Speak of the devil, the paid version just got updated (bumped to v. 7.6.1) Early reports indicate that it finally includes Skype chat.  More later.

Looks like Palringo, a free and popular instant messaging program, has been officially bumped up to v2.0. See our full review/feature tour here.

Of note is that starting with v1.42, you can now hide the gangly status bar & adjust font sizes, addressing one my complaints of earlier versions.

Download here. (Note: the mobile site is still hosting v1.42, so use this link instead).

The changelog is quite large, though the app still basically looks the same:

• Completely new install/uninstall process
• Automatic updates now only notify users that an update is available - downloading is manually approved
• Settings->Display->Group join/leave alerts
• Settings->Display->Contact List (item size) option
• Settings->Display->Tab size option replaces "Large Buttons" option.
• Contact list can now be filtered by service type, so you can effectively have a separate list for Facebook/MSN/Yahoo etc.
• Added private message spam filter for Palringo service
• Edit Profile link from overview screen
• Automatic detail expansion display on reduced contact list items
• Optimized list rendering code
• Optimized avatar rendering
• Default filenames for saving images
• Reformatting of photos has been made more reliable
• Miscellaneous other bug fixes and optimizations

IM+ All-in-One Mobile Messenger from Shape Services is one of the top IM applications for Windows Mobile Standard and Pro (and increasingly its competition).

It is also hands-down the most expensive option, coming in at a whooping one-time fee of $39.95. At least that $39.95 is a lifetime license with free upgrades and even a transfer to another device-type (except iPhone). Is it worth it? Depends if you are an instant messaging nut -- if so, yeah as its a darn good app.

Curious about what changes have been brought with their 6.x and now 7.x updates? Read on for my full review.

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Here's yet another way to hit up your Facebook friends from your phone. This time, it's FacebookIM.

As the name implies, it takes advantage of Facebook's chat services. It also takes advantage of Facebook's mobile site and also lets you upload photo and video directly.

This one comes to us from XDA Developers member blutz. Hit that up for more info, and check out the developers' site here.

Via Pocketnow

Fring, that all in one VOIP and chat app, got a major bump today to v3.34.

Added new features:

• Better fring addons (facebook, gmail, etc.)
• File Transfer (Skype, MSN, Yahoo..no AIM?)
• Typing indication
• Some nav changes
• Earpiece support for newer HTC devices

That last addon is something people who use VOIP services have been waiting for years. Anyways, it's a free service with a nifty Today Plugin, so if you use Skype, MSN, AIM, Yahoo, Twitter, etc. you may want to take it for a test run (or mobile site: m.fring.com)

And kudos to the fring developers who just got their official “Designed for Windows Mobile” certification.

One of my favorite (and free, ahem) IM solutions (Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo, VOIP) is Octro as I have always found it easy to use and streamlined for simple use--plus the plugin is nifty.

Getting updated to 2.0, the Octro team has added some cool new features including

• P2P Video Conferencing (!)
• Complete VOIP product. Access to PSTN (something which was discussed in a recent podcast)
• Buddy Icons

Obviously the Video conferencing is the big one here. We'll be giving it a spin here at WME headquarters this week and let you know our thoughts. Chime in with yours in comments.

Download it here

(Quick note: you need to have at least one Google Talk or Jabber account logged in before Octro will let you set the other stuff up! Download their manual from the above link to find instructions)

I love to chat. In person, I sometimes have a hard time actually involving myself in a conversation. I am able to complete thoughts more easily behind the buffer of my chat program. Having the ability to chat on my BlackJack is a great tool as well, the “instant gratification” that a chat program offers beats email or text messaging any day.

I have tried a number of Chat applications on my phone. Everything from MunduIM to Palringo to AOL’s IM client for Windows Mobile have been installed and used at one time or another. Continue reading to find out my opinion of IM+ for Windows Mobile Standard.

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From Shape Services, the makers of the popular IM+, comes Persistent.im, basically an always-on private conference that allows you to use your current IM client.

Each conference shows up and behaves as a contact in the IM contacts' list. Conference participants may use accounts in AIM®/iChat, MSN®/Windows Live™ Messenger, Yahoo!®, ICQ®, Jabber®, Google Talk™ and MySpaceIM and keep using their preferred instant messenger client.

You can use multiple IM clients and load your contacts from your favorite IM service, and there are a few bot commands to make conferencing command line-like friendly.

The free service works across desktop and mobile devices - wherever you choose to IM from.

Try Persistent.im

Back when I gave the BlackBerry (Part 1 and Part 2) a shot during the Smartphone Round Robin, there were two BB apps that impressed me: Opera Mobile and JiveTalk. JiveTalk is a multi-IM client and it was by far the best one I tried for the BlackBerry. Over at the CrackBerry forums there was near-universal consensus that it is the best IM client for the platform.

There are a ton of IM clients out there for Windows Mobile (including many on-deck clients built by OZ), but what's neat about JiveTalk right now is the clean, finger-friendly interface. Now remember, this thing is in Alpha and so you're going to see some bugs and it's not yet available for Standard Edition, just Pro. You'll want to keep an eye on the BeeJive Blog for the latest.

Still and all, looks promising, you might want to check it out: JiveTalk Alpha

Thanks to Merlyn3D for the tip!

So when it comes to WindowsMobile, we are slowly running out of programs where we don't have five thousand choices to choose from. Mobile Instant Messaging is one of those categories (though sadly, perhaps the best one, Verichat is now defunct).

One app that has been around for quite sometime is WebMessenger. But we haven't used it around here at WMExperts for one major reason: it was payware. Gladly, that has changed in the last week and now, for some untold reason, the sucka is completely free. Any catch? There doesn't appear to be--no ads, no spam according to their user Privacy Policy, although they are quick to point out there are no guarantees that it will remain free forever, but there's no reason to think that will change anytime soon.

So what the heck, lets give her a spin and see what we find. Read on to see my brief tour and review!

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