MobileChat 3.1 Update Released!

[Manic Mouse]

Have you met an unsatisfied BeeJive owner yet? The mere fact that a $16 app has a five star (EDIT: four and a half in iTunes) rating tells you it's quality (and it'll just get better with push notifications).

I paid £10 (nearly) for BeeJive and it's now my favourite and most used iPhone app. It's the most professional and polished app I own, better than many of Apple's own.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

I unfortunately bought MobileChat, which was a waste of my money...but, BeeJive is just too expensive for me. Meebo works better than all of them* for me, and I can use it for free.

However, since we're talking about this update...can I actually connect to MSN now..?

*The ones I've tried. I have no doubt that BeeJive is probably a great program..I just can't justify the cost myself for an IM app.

 

[Manic Mouse]

I unfortunately bought MobileChat, which was a waste of my money...but, BeeJive is just too expensive for me. Meebo works better than all of them* for me, and I can use it for free.

However, since we're talking about this update...can I actually connect to MSN now..?

*The ones I've tried. I have no doubt that BeeJive is probably a great program..I just can't justify the cost myself for an IM app.

It is an expensive app, no doubt about it. But then again, it's all about the way you think about it. The £10 I spent on BeeJive could have bought me a CD, perhaps a meal somewhere cheap. But what would I rather have at the end of the day? We're so used to getting software for nothing, but paying such a small sum for something I use everyday and is so useful doesn't bother me.

There is plenty of other software I would be willing to pay for too, like Adium and VLC. I couldn't live without those apps on my Mac, I use them daily.

I just think that the computer industry, particularly the software side, places a very low value on some things. If VLC cost £10 I would happily buy it. Not only am I supporting the developers but I know some of that money will go back into making the app better.

 

[compuguy1088]

It seems with the update to 3.1, that AIM and Gtalk are working as designed, minus Avatars.

 

[superstrikertwo]

It seems with the update to 3.1, that AIM and Gtalk are working as designed, minus Avatars.

I noticed that too but MSN is what I really want. Oh well I switched to BeeJive has all the features of MC and then some. I was one of the people who actually got MC to work more times than not. 3.1 seems to make MSN not work for me anymore

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

It is an expensive app, no doubt about it. But then again, it's all about the way you think about it. The £10 I spent on BeeJive could have bought me a CD, perhaps a meal somewhere cheap. But what would I rather have at the end of the day? We're so used to getting software for nothing, but paying such a small sum for something I use everyday and is so useful doesn't bother me.

There is plenty of other software I would be willing to pay for too, like Adium and VLC. I couldn't live without those apps on my Mac, I use them daily.

I just think that the computer industry, particularly the software side, places a very low value on some things. If VLC cost £10 I would happily buy it. Not only am I supporting the developers but I know some of that money will go back into making the app better.

Yes, I understand this I was simply stating that I cannot justify the cost for myself.

 

[Wolf103FM]

I honestly LOL'd at this update, as it does the exact same thing the original did.

 

[Manic Mouse]

Yes, I understand this I was simply stating that I cannot justify the cost for myself.

Don't worry, I'm sure there'll be a sale or something down the line so you might have the opportunity to pick it up!

 

[Clete2]

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I suppose it depends on what you are looking for. Beejive keeps you logged into your IM services for up to 24 hours when you close the app. IM+ does not (logs you out). Beejive has instant email notification (MM, exchange, yahoo) of a received IM when app is closed. IM+ does not. Beejive UI is far superior. Since Beejive keeps you logged in when closing the app, I plan to start using my iChat account for texting allowing me to decrease my text plan by $10/month. Beejive will basically pay for itself in 2 months time.

I see. I was wondering about the benefits. For me, I log into IM+ and when I'm done, I close the app. I don't stay on IM and chat. I just get info (where are you? I'm coming...) and leave the chat.

 

[kwjohns]

lol, they have now disabled comments from their tumblr altogether.

I submitted a ticket with Apple to refund me finally. Now I just can decide if I want to buy BeeJive or stick with Palringo.

 

[BikeRanger]

Have you met an unsatisfied BeeJive owner yet?

I've thought about that too. Now maybe we're all just trying to justify spending $16 on chat, but except for SOME games, this is my only non-native app where I don't find myself wishing for changes.

People use IM differently. For someone trading LOLs with their BFF, a free app may be perfect. For someone who uses IM for business and prefers the landscape keyboard, price may be the last of their concerns.

True, Palringo will probably add landscape support soon, but you see my point -- there's not going to be one ultimate best IM app for everyone.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

Don't worry, I'm sure there'll be a sale or something down the line so you might have the opportunity to pick it up!

Yep! Right now I'm waiting for the Tap Tap Revenge: Nine Inch Nails version to come out...I left myself just enough money to get it after Asphalt 4 (amazing game!) and Karajan. Karajan was on sale, which made me EXTREMELY happy, because I'm a musician. I spent three hours last night doing ear training with scales

 

[Rojo]

lol, they have now disabled comments from their tumblr altogether.

I laughed at this too, especially since their very last blog ends with "If you have any questions, feel free to post them below.".... and.... nowhere to actually post to.

It's a shame -- I was getting soooo much daily amusement from all of the angry posters complaining how terrible the app is, and the completely unprofessional developers responding with more and more lies. Where will I find my source of entertainment now???

 

[Luap]

Where will I find my source of entertainment now???

Amazingly, I think some folks are still buying it. Check out the iTunes store reviews.. The 1st page of 10 reviews.. Every single one has 1 star. Same for most of the next page too. Couldn't be arsed to read beyond there though. But its not good!

Watching what happens with this app and its developers has indeed become strangely entertaining!
Im still amazed the app hasn't been pulled from the store yet though.. And the sucky part of all this, is that the feeble developers have probably made a sizeable wedge of cash out of the shambles

 

[Rojo]

And the sucky part of all this, is that the feeble developers have probably made a sizeable wedge of cash out of the shambles

They claim they haven't made that much from sales, which I don't believe. When this app first came out, it was near the top of the downloaded apps for quite some time, even when it was immediately clear that it didn't work well. And even with all of the people getting refunds (though Apple has yet to process mine), they surely still pocketed a decent amount -- all for an app that doesn't work as advertised.

They at least FINALLY put up some kind of "server issue" warning on the app's store page -- though it's a little too little, too late. This warning should have been up there from the beginning, and they've likely gotten a LOT of people to buy this app since then, thinking they were getting something that works. The devs claimed this wasn't possible before (another lie). Why ANYONE would ever trust these guys now is beyond me...

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

They claim they haven't made that much from sales, which I don't believe. When this app first came out, it was near the top of the downloaded apps for quite some time, even when it was immediately clear that it didn't work well. And even with all of the people getting refunds (though Apple has yet to process mine), they surely still pocketed a decent amount -- all for an app that doesn't work as advertised.

They at least FINALLY put up some kind of "server issue" warning on the app's store page -- though it's a little too little, too late. This warning should have been up there from the beginning, and they've likely gotten a LOT of people to buy this app since then, thinking they were getting something that works. The devs claimed this wasn't possible before (another lie). Why ANYONE would ever trust these guys now is beyond me...

How exactly does one request a refund?

 

[Rojo]

How exactly does one request a refund?

Apparently you can e-mail Apple iTunes at itunesstoresupport@apple.com to request a refund. Several people have gotten refunds this way, though I'm still waiting on mine...

 

[compuguy1088]

I noticed that too but MSN is what I really want. Oh well I switched to BeeJive has all the features of MC and then some. I was one of the people who actually got MC to work more times than not. 3.1 seems to make MSN not work for me anymore

Same here...at least some of it works now.

 

[okrelayer]

useing beejive makes me just as happy as the first (and only time) that mobilechat worked. Only differance of course being that, beejive continues to work every day, every hour.. yeah well worth that one time cost of 16

 

[jpo]

Apparently you can e-mail Apple iTunes at itunesstoresupport@apple.com to request a refund. Several people have gotten refunds this way, though I'm still waiting on mine...

I did just this and received a refund already. I suggested to itunes support that they pull this POS from the store. The stale excuses from the devs are long past laughable. This is now just a sad repetitive debacle. I am currently trying Fring + backgrounder (but this is kind of a clunky solution) and may try beejive.

 

[kwjohns]

Woot! Got my MobileChat refund and bought BeeJive the other day. It runs laps around MC.

 

[bbplayer5]

Why do people keep saying that beejive is too expensive? People forget Mobile chat will charge you for major upgrades, while beejive will not.

BeeJive actually WORKS also... Mobilechat will never work.

 

[Rojo]

Finally getting my refund! I wasn't hearing anything from iTunes Support, so I contacted them again yesterday, and got a response today. At first, the support person said they found my purchase, but that it was "free" and I was not charged -- but because I was deeply unsatisfied, they would give me a 5-song store credit on iTunes.

I explained to them that they might have seen one of my many attempts to delete and re-install the app, and reminded them that every download after the first one is marked "free" (you'd think they'd know that), and that I was indeed charged $2.99 plus tax -- even showing them a screenshot of my purchasing history with the original MobileChat download. I then said that while I appreciate the 5-song credit, and it's a much better value ($5) than getting my $3 back, I still wanted a proper refund -- because I didn't want the MobileChat developers receiving a single dime from me.

So I got another response saying they'd credit my account for a full refund!

Slightly off-topic: I was quite surprised that the two e-mails I got from the support guy (his name was Adrian) was littered with grammatical errors. It's just odd getting any official correspondence from Apple and it sounds like a kid wrote it.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

I was emailed about my refund, and they said I'll receive it in the next couple of days, so I'm just waiting on that

 

[spyker3292]

Hey.... wow.... I actually... REALLY... GOT IT TO LOG IN TO MSN! Well, that was exciting. Now if they could have only had that working 2 months ago. And AIM won't do anything. I'm starting to slip away, I'll probably buy Beejive soon... but it's just so expensive!