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Why can't we use iChat with our iPhones?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Minnesota
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I tried to use iChat tonight to connect to my iPhone, but iChat won't let me type in my phone number. It requires an AIM, .Mac or MobileMe name. Why? Apple makes both products, why can't they work together?
Also, is there a better IM software package than the standard one that Apple puts out that doesn't use AT&T SMS? For example, Google Talk on my BlackBerry uses my data plan, not my SMS messages.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Toronto
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Not sure what you mean. You can download the AIM client from the app store with no problem and use your standard AIM account.
AIM, which iChat uses, doesn't recognize phone numbers. That has nothing to do with Apple and everything with the backbone iChat is using. When iChat first came out Apple had to decide which existing IM network to use and AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) won out. AIM, or any IM network for that matter, is not a substitute for SMS messages. The two are fundamentally different technologies.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
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Originally Posted by alligator
I tried to use iChat tonight to connect to my iPhone, but iChat won't let me type in my phone number. It requires an AIM, .Mac or MobileMe name. Why? Apple makes both products, why can't they work together?
Why would you expect that sort of integration from Apple? They don't even support tethering with a Mac and an iPhone.
Use the free AIM client on the iPhone, although it's of questionable utility without PNS.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
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Originally Posted by alligator
I tried to use iChat tonight to connect to my iPhone, but iChat won't let me type in my phone number. It requires an AIM, .Mac or MobileMe name. Why? Apple makes both products, why can't they work together?
If you want to send a message to a specific iPhone you can do that through SMS. In iChat set up an AIM buddy. As an account name use a phone number starting with +1 (country code for the US). Text messages will be sent to that number as SMS. If you are utside of North America (+1 numbers) you are out of luck though.
Of course you can also just use the menu command in iChat > File > Send SMS... You will still need a +1 phone number though.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
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Originally Posted by Mastrap
AIM, which iChat uses, doesn't recognize phone numbers.
Oh yes it does!
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Toronto
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Apparently I stand corrected.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 888500128
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Only in the United States, though.
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Originally Posted by mduell
Why would you expect that sort of integration from Apple? They don't even support tethering with a Mac and an iPhone.
I’m quite sure Apple would *love* to add tethering via USB to the iPhone. Mobile 7.2mbps internet access for your Macbook using just the iPhone — technically easily doable and a huge selling point. That’s the theory.
In reality however AT&T and the other providers would never ever let them do this. Oh well, maybe in 3 years or so.
(sorry for the derail)
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"The road to success is dotted with the most tempting parking spaces."
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Toronto
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Originally Posted by analogika
Only in the United States, though.
Works in Canada too, but Rogers wanted to charge me for my test SMS. So I told them to eff off.
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