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.
Our Rating
Palringo
- Developer: Palringo Limited
- Category: Social Networking
- Released: 8-12-08
(currently 2.9)
(currently free)
Only thing that sucks about it, is that there is no smiles.. Why can’t they include them?
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.
@G: Great thought… where are the smilies?
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.
Have the latest iphone. Sound files do not work. Ther rest is fine. Out of 10 i give it a 6
Hi Guys!
Smilies are back!
If you’re having any problems visit
http://www.palringo.com/en/gb/
and post your issues in the forum. You’ll receive all the technical support you need there!