AIM question, does it run when not opened

[lindsayanng]

I am trying to understand how the AIM app works. I THOUGHT i read that it will work if you open it and the phone goes to sleep, but i havent had that happed. I also read that if you get an IM while it is closed, you well get notices that you have X number of IMs, but i tried it yesterday, and i IMed myself while the app was not opened, but i didnt get any IM.

Did i miss a setting or something?

 

[Niiro13]

It does not run unless it's opened. However, AOL does keep you signed on after you exit. If anyone IMs you in that time, they simply store the messages on their server. Once you tap the AIM icon again, you receive all the messages sent to you while you did not have AIM opened.

It will not show you the number of IMs received unless you opened it, however (the red number on the icon is only available with push).

While it currently is buggy (I believe you're only signed on for 15 minutes or so...and the fact that if you received like 20 IMs from the same person, that it might simply show up as blank), it's the only substitute for "running" while it's not opened.

In September, Apple will release an update that will allow programs to send notifications even when they're not running (a good example is SMS...you don't need to have it running to receive a text message).

 

[lindsayanng]

ok.. so is there something wrong with my copy? Because I sent myself three or four messages while the app was closed, but they never showed on my screen. I even went through a made sure that my forward to cell was turned off and all that..

So whats going on? I dont get it?

 

[RamSlack]

I thought the keynote stated that the AIM app would use the push technology so IMs would be pushed the the phone whether or not AIM was open.

 

[admanimal]

I thought the keynote stated that the AIM app would use the push technology so IMs would be pushed the the phone whether or not AIM was open.

It will...when the push technology is released later this year.

 

[lindsayanng]

ok.. so is there an answer as to why i am not getting my IMs from when the AIM app isnt opened?? Am I missing a setting??

i dont really use AIM regularly, but i wanted it because i wanted to save on Text messages between my friend with the side kick, and my husband who also has an i phone..

 

[AHDuke99]

Mine seems to connect for 10 minutes or so after I exit out of AIM and then it signs off. Hopefully, the bugs will be fixed when the PUSH service comes out so it can stay connected so the app will actually be useful.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I think you only "get" IM's for 5-10 minutes after you close it, but even then they won't show up unless you re-open AIM in that 5-10 minute time period. Once push it available, you will get notified of received IM's.. my only question is.. is that still ONLY for that 5-10 minutes? Or will AIM always push IM's to your screen name even if you've not opened AIM for hours, rather than 5-10 minutes.

 

[AHDuke99]

I think you only "get" IM's for 5-10 minutes after you close it, but even then they won't show up unless you re-open AIM in that 5-10 minute time period. Once push it available, you will get notified of received IM's.. my only question is.. is that still ONLY for that 5-10 minutes? Or will AIM always push IM's to your screen name even if you've not opened AIM for hours, rather than 5-10 minutes.

So it's supposed to be open for only 5-10 minutes? I certainly hope that changes, because it's useless otherwise. I'll jailbreak and run hacked apps again if they are making it that way. I want to be able to keep it up so I'll receive IMs at all times like I could on my RAZR three years ago.

 

[lindsayanng]

ok.. this thread is just getting TOO CONFUSING.

My question is...

when i turn off AIM and go to the homescreen, if someone IMs me they are SUPPOSED to go through, and they are SUPPOSED to pop up the next time i open AIM. UNFORTUNATELY that is not happening, and i was wondering if those of you who use AIM a lot can give me some ideas of setting i might have on my regular AIM program or something like that.

 

[Niiro13]

There are no settings. It's just supposed to (at least for like 5-15 minutes...after that, it signs you off and you don't receive the messages that were sent)

Push will allow for IMs to be sent to your phone.

But it's still AOL's part to keep you appeared as "signed on" on their servers.

 

[lindsayanng]

I know that.. my question is that i have used iChat and AIM and i had certain settings set for when i was offline, like redirecting it to my cell as a text..

if there really is no other settings i might have messed with, then what is going on?? do i need to re-install the app?

The SAME app works fine on my husband's phone.

 

[cocky jeremy]

They only pop up the next time you open AIM if they're received in that 5-15 minutes after you close it.. and even then, half the time they show up as blank messages. So it needs some work.. but come September, with Push, it should be much better.

 

[lindsayanng]

thanks for the clarification. I'm not even getting them 3 seconds after i log off. I guess its just a glitch, and i will have to wait

 

[cocky jeremy]

thanks for the clarification. I'm not even getting them 3 seconds after i log off. I guess its just a glitch, and i will have to wait

Go into.. Settings > AIM > "Sign-off on Exit [OFF]"

IF that is set to on, that's your problem.

 

[lindsayanng]

Go into.. Settings > AIM > "Sign-off on Exit [OFF]"

IF that is set to on, that's your problem.

THANKS YOU!! I THINK THAT IS MY PROBLEM!!!!
I knew there HAD to be something somewhere that might have been making it impossible for me to get my messages. I'm sure i shut that off a long time ago when i was sick of all the pop ups coming through the next time i signed in which was like, MONTHS apart.

 

[cocky jeremy]

No problem. You're still gonna be disappointed though. When you close AIM, and open it back up to check if you've gotten messages while it's been closed.. guess what, half the time any messages you received show up as blank. That needs to be fixed.. and sooooooon!

 

[Zathu]

No problem. You're still gonna be disappointed though. When you close AIM, and open it back up to check if you've gotten messages while it's been closed.. guess what, half the time any messages you received show up as blank. That needs to be fixed.. and sooooooon!

I'm glad I'm not the only one. This is the only thing really holding this app back..

 

[iNfowarrior]

It will...when the push technology is released later this year.

Seems like most of us missed this little fact in the keynote. Selective hearing or another thing they misled us about?

 

[iNfowarrior]

My Aim seems to work fine as advertised, I was just expecting push to be available at launch.

Push will transform this free AIM app from almost useless to 100% useful.

I cannot be mindful of my logged in status with AIM. It needs to be constantly possible to receive an IM notification pushed to the device, at which time i can then log in and retrieve.

It would be a lot better if they would fully take advantage of the iPhone capabilities and make Pushed IM's pop up on the home screen like an SMS, with a reply or cancel option.

 

[bbplayer5]

If you want AIM to stay open and notify you of new messages, dont press home. Just push the sleep button and it will stay on. If you leave AIM for any reason, it will keep you logged in on AOLs servers for 15 mins. Press sleep, it will never log you off unless you lose cell coverage.

 

[ViperrepiV]

If you want AIM to stay open and notify you of new messages, dont press home. Just push the sleep button and it will stay on. If you leave AIM for any reason, it will keep you logged in on AOLs servers for 15 mins. Press sleep, it will never log you off unless you lose cell coverage.

and it will show you missed IMs in a SMS-style alert box?

 

[The General]

and it will show you missed IMs in a SMS-style alert box?

No. It will make the message received sound that AIM makes and when you unlock your phone AIM will be there and you'll see the message.

Your mileage may vary.

This is not a tough concept. The push servers are not up yet, thus push notification is not up, thus you do not get notification unless AIM is running.

 

[Niiro13]

No problem. You're still gonna be disappointed though. When you close AIM, and open it back up to check if you've gotten messages while it's been closed.. guess what, half the time any messages you received show up as blank. That needs to be fixed.. and sooooooon!

I wonder what causes that. AgileMessenger has a similar problem (only when it turns blank, the following messages that you send or receive stay blank)

and it will show you missed IMs in a SMS-style alert box?

No. It will make the message received sound that AIM makes and when you unlock your phone AIM will be there and you'll see the message.

Your mileage may vary.

This is not a tough concept. The push servers are not up yet, thus push notification is not up, thus you do not get notification unless AIM is running.

Actually, the AlertView will show with push if AOL implements it. My guess is that they won't however...since the majority of AIM users would be on their computers, all of them messaging at once would crash the iPhone with a billion AlertViews. Chances are, they'll play the sound/vibrate, then have the badge number on the AIM icon.

 

[The General]

Actually, the AlertView will show with push if AOL implements it. My guess is that they won't however...since the majority of AIM users would be on their computers, all of them messaging at once would crash the iPhone with a billion AlertViews. Chances are, they'll play the sound/vibrate, then have the badge number on the AIM icon.

Once the push servers are up, but that is a totally different conversation. He was asking if, right now, you lock your phone with AIM running, it displays an SMS-style window thingy with the message when you get a new message in AIM.