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iMessage needs a buddy list
- Thread starter BBNYC
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Your contact list is a buddy list. Plus, you get free texts to anyone with an iPhone. How is that not useful? 
Your contact list is a buddy list.
Not really, your contact list doesn't easily show who's capable of receiving iMessages and who's currently online to chat.
The point of iMessages is that it's integrated with text messages so you don't need to care who can receive iMessages and who can't.
It's not like a desktop IM client when someone has to log on. You are almost always available.
Actually imo it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the option of only showing contacts with iMessage. I know more than a few people with only a data plan and no text messaging- I think they'd appreciate a feature like this.
I can't ever think of a situation when I go, "Hmm . . . who can I send an iMessage to?" Rather, I have a specific person I want to contact and I'm more like "Cool! They have iMessage so I don't have to waste a text!"
I think the situation would more be like, "I need to send a message to John. Should I send an iMessage or send a whatsapp message?"
Maybe it's different in the US but where I am this is how it usually goes. Most plans here include data but not texting.
You'd like to check a buddy list and see if John can receive an iMessage? Open up an iMessage/text with John and see if the send button is blue or green. It's no more work than having a buddy list. Actually, it's less work because you don't have to maintain a buddy list.
I don't see how it would be a bad idea. More than once I've had the Send button stay green while I knew for certain that the receiver had an iPhone with iMessage.
I don't see how maintenance would be needed. It's just a separate list of known iMessage equipped users. It doesn't even need to be real time- how about just a little note on the contact's name saying iMessage possible if you've previously sent an iMessage to that user? Have a toggle in settings if you really don't want it. Simple.
If your send button is not the correct color indicating iMessage, why would you expect a buddy list to be any more accurate?
By checking whether you've previously sent an iMessage to this person. It doesn't have to be real time.
The whole idea of iMessage is that it's not another IM client. The point of it is to help save iPhone users text messages by sending texts as an iMessage when possible. iMessage is supposed to be discrete, so it won't distract people from sending messages like normal. Having buddy lists for iMessage when it's incorporated into the messaging app would be confusing and would unnecessarily clutter it up. As grapes911 pointed out, wether someone has iMessage or not shouldn't be the 'deal breaker' of if you're going to text them or not. It's just an added bonus
bbm>imessage. after 3 months of having the 4s i still dont see the point of it. it should be set up like blackberrys bbm
Not sure what its like elsewhere, but in the UK, majority of iPhone tariffs are unlimited texts, so the use of it "saving text messages" is a little moot.
I do like iMessage, it has a lot of features that expands the functionality of "texting" someone with the read/delivered notifications, but I find myself hanging around for a few seconds seeing if its delivered or not, if not, I tap and hold and tap send as text, because it waits a minute or two afterwards to send as a text, sometimes more.
I also use an iPad and that only has usage of iMessage, so having a list of contacts that can only receive iMessage would be very useful for this. Just have contacts and another tab/button to display iMessage contacts.
I do like iMessage, it has a lot of features that expands the functionality of "texting" someone with the read/delivered notifications, but I find myself hanging around for a few seconds seeing if its delivered or not, if not, I tap and hold and tap send as text, because it waits a minute or two afterwards to send as a text, sometimes more.
I also use an iPad and that only has usage of iMessage, so having a list of contacts that can only receive iMessage would be very useful for this. Just have contacts and another tab/button to display iMessage contacts.
I think the point of it is that it works simply without much thought. If the recipient has iMessage then the messages are sent quicker, there is a delivery confirmation, optional read receipt, and picture/video quality is improved substantially. It doesn't replace the need for text messages completely, just makes them better when the other person has an iPhone.
you're exactly right. Apple doesn't want you think, let me go to my imessage contacts ONLY and send a message to a particular person WITH imessage. Apple doesn't want to change the way you txt someone. They want you to just txt as you usually do without thought. the imessage is just a added bonus, not an IM app in addition to the messages app.
problem with bbm is that its a separate app in itself and that you have to make a conscientious decision to only send someone else with bbm rather than just txt anyone on your list.
I'm not saying the buddy list is a bad idea, but the problem is when apple gives up options, there are always people asking for more options. its not possible to fulfill everyone's wants. for me, having imessages is better than just having txt alone. its only a few months old and like everything else, it'll evolve over time.
I think you mean BBM <> iMessages. Comparing the two is apples to oranges (or Apples to Berries
). BBM is an instant message service. iMessages is a way to get free texts. They serve two different purposes.I didnt read every reply on this thread so if this was already mentioned I apologize, but I do think it would be awesome if u could go to ur contacts and have 2 tab at the top; one that says All Contacts and one that says iMessage Only contacts or something like that. When u click on the iMessage Only tab it uses data to refresh the list of who in ur contacts has their iMessage turned on ATM, kinda the way ur buddy list on Yahoo something does to refresh. Would be neat. Then again, this is coming from a person who doesn't use iMessage at all haha!!!!
I think you mean BBM <> iMessages. Comparing the two is apples to oranges (or Apples to Berries
lol apples to berrys i like that. but i meant bbm is better than imessage. besides the huge outage they had, there were never any send and receive issues like there are with imessage. it either fails or becomes a SMS message. its just never consistent. i know its new but all these little simple issues are becoming irritating
Doesn't matter. Cellphone's have never shown who's 'online', just freaking send a message.
If you're friend is available to respond, he can, if not, he will when he can or wants to.
iMessage is a paradigm shift from a classic IM program. You saw it first with FaceTime. It is moving IM towards the classic phone model where you do not have to sign in and you are always present. If you don't want to answer or respond, simply ignore incoming messages/calls.
If you want a separate IM client that has buddy lists etc then get an app like Kik It seems that something like that would suit your needs/wants better than iMessage, which is not going to change to your will.
It seems that something like that would suit your needs/wants better than iMessage, which is not going to change to your will.Today i realized that if you create a new text to someone... when you type in their name for a search a blue bubble is next to a person who is eligible for iMessage.