AIM 2.0 update for iPhone...sending IM's to text

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Level 1

70 points

AIM 2.0 update for iPhone...sending IM's to text

Hey all,

I've just recently downloaded the new AIM update for iPhone and was wondering if anyone is having any luck with the "free" IM to text messaging that it supposedly lets you do. I haven't, even when sending an IM to my own phone (from my phone) it says that "this phone is unable to receive messages." Why?! I don't understand. I've tried about 5 of my contacts with no luck and am officially frustrated. Anyone able to help?

2.2 Blackbook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 26, 2009 6:45 PM

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Answer 1

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Feb 26, 2009 7:44 PM in response to Gabe S

How are you sending the messages?

You might want to take a look at this webpage and see if the setup listed here helps.

http://db.tidbits.com/article/9690

~Lyssa

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Answer 2

Gabe S Author

Level 1

70 points

Feb 26, 2009 8:41 PM in response to Lyssa

Lyssa,

Thanks for the reply, but that doesn't work either! Actually it's a longer way than AIM specifically tells you to do (but I still tried it!). You should be able to click on any contact in your phone book and its listed phone number, then it will automatically add the +1 in front of the number so that you can IM. I've also tried manually entering in the phone number...also doesn't work. I've tried like 20 of the contacts in my address book, from verizon, to t-mo, to at&t users with iPhones, and including sending it to myself. All say that they aren't accepting mobile IM's, which are supposed to work with pretty much anyone. I'm just wondering if anyone is having the same experience and knows of a workaround?

Here's a link in case anyone is interested in how it's been billed: http://i.gizmodo.com/5160463/iphone-aim-app-gets-background-notifications-free-s ms-messages-and-ads

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Answer 3

Feb 27, 2009 9:19 AM in response to Gabe S

Hello, I'm the Product Lead for AOL's Mac and iPhone products.

When sending IMs through our SMS gateway, are you using a Contact that exists on your phone? Have you tried adding the Phone number to your Buddy List (go to Buddy List, tap Edit and then tap +). Make sure you add a "+1" to the beginning of each phone number (you won't have to do this if you're adding a Contact, this is only necessary if you're adding a phone number to your Buddy List). From there, you should be able to send an IM to that phone via SMS.

Due to agreements we have with mobile carriers, we can send and receive messages over the SMS gateway to most cell phone providers in the US, Canada and PR.

thanks...

Message was edited by: Lee Givens Jr.

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Answer 4

Gabe S Author

Level 1

70 points

Feb 27, 2009 11:53 AM in response to Lee Givens Jr.

Hi Lee. I've been trying both ways; manually entering in a phone number with a +1 first, or by selecting a pre-existing contact through the contact list. Both ways have no luck. I've deleted and reinstalled the app as well as reset my phone several times hoping that it would do the trick, but nothing seems to work. EVERY single time it says that the person is unable to receive messages. I've tried 20-something odd people and not a single success story.

I took pictures to show you:

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Answer 5

TSmedes

Level 1

0 points

Feb 28, 2009 2:19 PM in response to Gabe S

I've been having the same issue as Gabe. After testing texts to users on Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and another iPhone 3g user, I haven't yet been able to send a single successful message to a contact.

It always comes back exactly like the screenshots posted above; user is unable to receive messages. We've tested with someone's phone right next to mine and while a normal text would work instantly, they still show unable to receive messages from AIM. We've tried on edge, 3g, and on wifi, with no difference in results.

The normal AIM messaging part is working just like it always has, and the new 24 hour sign out time is working great, but I can't seem to get the IM to SMS functionality to work at all.

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Answer 6

Gabe S Author

Level 1

70 points

Mar 1, 2009 1:29 PM in response to TSmedes

Okay, so I'm not the only one! i don't have a lot of friends with iPhones and the AIM site is horrible to navigate and try to find a discussion board about this issue. Any thoughts or advice, Lee?

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Answer 7

Gabe S Author

Level 1

70 points

Mar 3, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Gabe S

Anyone? I was really excited to use this and hopefully cut down on my text plan but now I am just super irritated that I can't seem to get it to work right. Is anyone actually using AIM 2.0 to send IM's to a phone number?

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Answer 8

TSmedes

Level 1

0 points

Mar 3, 2009 11:09 PM in response to Gabe S

I've been trying everything I can think of and have had no luck either. Uninstalled, reinstalled, patched, unpatched, numbers on contact list, adding new numbers, adding buddy names, turning sms announce on/off... I can't think of anything else to try. I don't currently have a texting plan since most people I communicate with use email, and the iphone handles that great, but I would really like to use this AIM feature to talk to those few who can't get email on their phones.

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Answer 9

Mar 4, 2009 1:17 PM in response to Gabe S

Just adding one more to the chorus. I can't get SMS via AIM on the iPhone to work either. Very frustrating. (IMs work fine).

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Answer 10

Mar 5, 2009 7:48 PM in response to Gabe S

Same problem here. Not one successful IM sent as text. Zero. Tried all things mentioned here. Same message as Gabe.

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Answer 11

TSmedes

Level 1

0 points

Mar 13, 2009 9:04 AM in response to David Cooper1

I'm still having the same problem after the latest 2.0.2 update, has it been fixed for anyone else?

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Answer 12

May 2, 2009 9:19 PM in response to TSmedes

I am having the same problem as everyone here. My iPhone is less than a week old (just received it on Wednesday) and the software is up to date. There is still no resolution for this?

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Answer 13

May 13, 2009 4:08 PM in response to Gabe S

I am having the exact same issue. I've tried every SMS app i can find also and none of them work

Message was edited by: Jason Fisher

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Answer 14

TSmedes

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2009 11:27 AM in response to Jason Fisher

I've been eagerly waiting a fix for this, but still nothing. I've tried out other sms to text programs like textfree and they work just fine. There's something with sending from aim that isn't working. I got it to work once, to one person, a month or two ago, and that was the only time I've ever sent a message successfully to a phone number and not someone using aim on a pc. I don't like textfree, and don't want to have to have multiple programs installed to do the same thing, so I would really appreciate a fix from aim on this one.

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Answer 15

Randy Fast

Level 4

1,432 points

Jun 23, 2009 1:38 PM in response to Gabe S

Well I was hoping there would be a solution to this issue. I just got the AIM version 3.0.1 with push and when I try to send a text I get the same message saying the person is unable to receive messages. I have 3.0 OS iPhone 3G, paid version of AIM. No one has gotten it to work?

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