Are there any IM apps that actually work?

[cydewaze]

I chat a lot on AIM and Yahoo messenger, so naturally I'd like an IM app for my phone. I use Pidgin on my home PC, but I don't think it's available for Android yet, so I installed Nimbuzz.

Nimbuzz works great, except that whenever the screen goes dark on idle, it disconnects. This is obviously unacceptable, because the screen often goes dark before the reply to my last IM arrives, making the other party think I've "hung up" on them. I decided to try Trillian instead, but it does the same exact thing.

Is there an IM app out there that actually stays connected? It doesn't seem like this should be such a complicated thing!

 

[disconfigured]

ebuddy..

 

[NZtechfreak]

Trillian.

 

[cydewaze]

Tried eBuddy and it also disconnects as soon as you let the phone sit.

I'm starting to think that this is maybe something with my phone settings. What would cause any IM programs to disconnect at idle?

 

[RH A4CAB]

Whatsapp

Most of my contacs are now on it works a treat.

 

[Gajet]

Another vote here for Trillian Beta, works great, pushes messages to you when in hibernation mode. Download direct, not available on the Market.

 

[BookLover]

Tried eBuddy and it also disconnects as soon as you let the phone sit.

I'm starting to think that this is maybe something with my phone settings. What would cause any IM programs to disconnect at idle?

If you're on wifi when this happens, make sure your wifi is set to never sleep. Could be your current settings are set to turn off wifi when your screen is off.

 

[Deleted User]

the trillian beta has worked wonderfully for me. If only we could turn off the bubbles. But as far as connectivity, havent had an issue.

 

[cydewaze]

If you're on wifi when this happens, make sure your wifi is set to never sleep. Could be your current settings are set to turn off wifi when your screen is off.

I think it might be my battery profile. I had it set to shut off data after 15 min. My wifi sleep policy is set to "never" so that shouldn't be it.

(btw I think I need to choose my topic a bit more carefully, hah! Everyone else is just recommending their favorite IM client)

 

[Deleted User]

I think it might be my battery profile. I had it set to shut off data after 15 min. My wifi sleep policy is set to "never" so that shouldn't be it.

agreed that sounds like could be your issue.

 

[cydewaze]

So far so good. I let the phone sit for a bit, then sent myself an IM from my wife's account. Got a notification at soon as I hit "send". Gonna let it sit for a bit longer and try again.

If it works, my only problem will be choosing between these three IM clients! I sort of like them all.

 

[cydewaze]

Yeah that was it. My sleep policy was shutting off data and that included IMs. I wonder if that's also why none of my Internet radio programs ever work.

I think I'm going to stick with eBuddy because I like the way it looks, font's not too huge, and it's working right now. Thanks for the help!

 

[BookLover]

Glad to have helped!

 

[skimminstones]

Meebo works too

there is a specific yahoo messenger app that works pretty good now too

 

[cydewaze]

Meebo works too

there is a specific yahoo messenger app that works pretty good now too

Yep but I want AIM, Yahoo, and Facebook chat together.

 

[iDR0ID]

Yep but I want AIM, Yahoo, and Facebook chat together.

ebuddy..

+1 on ebuddy


but you can also use hifacebook, hiAIM, hiYahoo if you want seperate programs. I liked all of those, but ebuddy makes it all in one program

 

[positivespectrum]

I think this depends - do you want a multi-protocol IM that works for all chat protocols and platforms like eBuddy, Agile, or Mundu?

Or do you want one that is multi-platform that works on more than one device so you can talk to your friends like Kik? (but is its own Chat protocol?)

Or do you want one that is multi-protocol, but only on one or two platforms, like imo.im?

If you'd like to do more comparisons and learn more about the wide variety of IM apps - check Message Universe | Messenger Free Download List | List of Messenger Download's for Free

Cheers.
Trent

 

[cydewaze]

I'm liking eBuddy so far. I tried Trillian again, because I like the look so much better, but I can't get it to reliably alert me when I have a new IM. eBuddy never fails though... just wish I could skin it or something. I'm not loving the orange text bubbles with white text.

 

[Jnewmnan83]

I have tried eBuddy, Nimbuzz, AIM, Meebo....but the one that I always seem to come back to is IM+. I have been using it successfully since 2005 w/ my Verizon 6600, followed by by Verizon6700, then my Samsung Saga Global, now my Droid X. It isn't much for flashiness, but it does the job and is free
IM Plus - Android app on AppBrain

There is a paid version as well

 

[cydewaze]

I might take a peek at that one, thanks.

 

[mihalich]

Trillian works great for me. It is the only one that I've tried lately that doesn't disconnect when the app goes to the background. I was using IM+ but they broke the auto-reconnect in the latest versions of their app.

Joe

 

[cobra46]

I think it might be my battery profile. I had it set to shut off data after 15 min. My wifi sleep policy is set to "never" so that shouldn't be it.

(btw I think I need to choose my topic a bit more carefully, hah! Everyone else is just recommending their favorite IM client)

How do you change this wifi sleep policy or shut off data after 15 minutes?

Thanks

 

[cydewaze]

How do you change this wifi sleep policy or shut off data after 15 minutes?

Thanks

From the main screen, tap the options icon, then pick "Settings".

For Data:

Go to Battery Manager, and click "Battery Mode".

Choose "Custom Battery Saver", then click on the little gear to the right to go into the settings.

There you can set you Peak usage hours, and tell it to turn of data after X minutes.

For WiFi:

Go to WiFi & Network Settings

Click WiFi settings

Tap phone's options icon and pick "Advanced"

There you will find the WiFi sleep policy