Chapter 7. SMS, MMS, and Instant Messaging

In this chapter, you learn how to use the Palm Pre’s integrated SMS/MMS/IM application called Messaging. The Messaging application provides a single interface to all messaging and IM activities on your Palm Pre. Topics include the following:

→ Adding Messaging accounts

→ Sending and receiving SMS

→ Sending and receiving MMS

→ Chatting using your Instant Messaging (IM) account

Your Palm Pre uses a single application called Messaging to combine all types of messaging other than email. With this one application you can send and receive Short Message Service (SMS or text messaging) messages and Multimedia Message Service (MMS) messages, and chat with your friends and family using Instant Messaging (IM). Like all other Palm Pre applications, the Messaging application makes use of the Palm Pre’s Synergy concept to seamlessly combine all your accounts into one place.

Adding Accounts

The first time you run the Messages application, it gives you an opportunity to add new instant messaging (IM) accounts. It is already set up with the SMS account (which can also be used for MMS) associated with your Pre’s phone number.

Step-by-Step: Adding an IM Account

If you want to add an extra IM account, tap the application menu and tap Preferences and Accounts, then follow the steps below.

1. Tap the Messaging icon from the Launcher. This opens the Your Messaging account screen, from which you can add new messaging accounts and see a list of messaging accounts already configured for your phone.

   

2. Tap Add an Account to see a list of IM account services that you can add to your phone.

   

3. Choose the type of IM account you want to add. Your choices are three of the more prominent services available: Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), and Yahoo.

   

4. Type your IM account’s username and password.
5. Tap Sign In to connect to your IM account. If the connection fails, make sure that you have typed your username and password accurately. After your IM account signs in successfully, you return to the Your Messaging accounts screen.

   

6. To add more IM accounts, repeat steps 2 to 4. After you add all your IM accounts, tap Done to go to the main Messaging screen which is detailed in the next section.

   

Using Messaging

Now that you added your IM accounts, you can start using the Messaging application to send and receive SMS, MMS, and IM. SMS is short for Short Message Service, and is used to send short 163 character text messages between mobile phones. MMS is short for Multimedia Message Service and is used to send files between mobile phones, most commonly pictures and video. IM is short for Instant Messaging and is used mostly on desktop computers to chat with your friends. Regardless of which method of communication you want to use, you start out at the main Messaging screen shown here.

Step-by-Step: Contacting Buddies and Managing Conversations

The main screen of the Messaging application has two sections, Conversations and Buddies. The Conversations section shows you all your SMS, MMS, and IM conversations. This is useful because it keeps all your chats in one place and enables you to resume them at anytime. The Buddies section shows you all of your IM buddies and enables you to tap one of them to start an IM chat. Let’s explore each section now.

1. With the Messaging app launched, tap Conversations. This displays a screen with a list of recent or ongoing conversations in which you’re involved. These conversations can include both SMS/MMS cellular texts and IM chats conducted over the Internet.
2. Tap an IM conversation to resume your IM chat.
3. Tap an SMS/MMS conversation to resume your text chat.

   

4. Tap Buddies to see your IM buddies. This is where you can initiate a new IM conversation.
5. Tap a buddy to start an IM conversation with them.
6. One unique feature of IM clients is that they allow you to set your status. Are you available to chat? Do you not want to be disturbed? Setting your status lets your IM buddies know when it’s okay to contact you. To change your status, tap the green button next to your current status (Available in this case). Choose your new status. Your choices are Available, Busy, and Sign off.
7. In addition to your status you can also set a status message. This message can convey just about anything you want it to. To change your status message to something other than Available, tap the word Available, and type a message. You might want to indicate that you are mobile so you could change it to “Available on my Palm Pre.”

   

Sending a Standard Text (SMS) Message

Unlike IM, which is an Internet-based service, SMS and MMS are traditional cell phone concepts where you can send quick messages and other files to the cell phones of other people in your contacts list.

1. With the Messaging application open, tap to create a new SMS or MMS message. Note that this button is available to you regardless of whether you are on the Conversations or Buddies screens. On the screen that follows you can select a person or persons to receive your text message.

   

2. Start typing the person’s name. If the person is in your address book already, you should see the screen filter until it shows her name and contact information. If the person is not in your address book, type their phone number instead.
3. After you’ve located the contact to which you want to send a text message, tap the person’s mobile number. This opens up a screen where you can enter your message.

   

4. Type your message. Note that many cell phone services limit the number of characters that can be sent in a text message to 160.
5. Tap the send icon to send the SMS.

   

Sending Multimedia Files (MMS) with Your Text Message

Sending a picture along with your text message requires you to attach the multimedia file before entering the message.

1. If you want to send an MMS, before typing the message, tap the paper clip icon to choose a picture to send. Note that as soon as you enter text into a message the paper clip icon disappears. When you tap this icon you are asked from where you want to get the picture to attach.

   

2. Choose a photo album or tap New Photo to take a photo with your Palm Pre’s camera. Regardless of where you get the photo from, once you select a photo an Attach Photo button appears on the screen.

   

3. Tap Attach Photo to attach the selected photo to your outgoing MMS message. Once the photo is attached you can enter a message to go along with it.

   

4. Type your message.
5. Tap the send icon to send your MMS.

   

Receiving Text (SMS) and Multimedia Files (MMS)

When you receive incoming messages, be they SMS or MMS, you are alerted of this fact no matter which application you are using, or even if your Palm Pre is in your pocket. Here is how to read those messages and respond to them.

1. If you are not in the Messaging application when you receive a new SMS or MMS, you see it on the bottom of the screen in the notification area. If you tap the notification, it expands to show you more of the message.

   

2. If you tap it one more time, you can read the entire message in the Messaging application.

   

Configuring Messaging

If you need to add or remove IM accounts or change the way in which the Messaging application works, you need to configure it. Let’s do that now.

1. With the Messaging application open, tap the application menu on the top left of the screen.
2. Tap Preferences & Accounts.

   

3. Tap the On/Off switch next to Show Notifications to enable or disable SMS, MMS, and IM notifications when in other applications. Turning this off stops your Palm Pre from alerting you of new messages while you are busy in other applications. This helps to keep your attention focused on the task at hand.
4. Tap System Alert to change the sound that notifies you of a new SMS, MMS, or IM. Your choices are System Alert, Ringtone, and Mute. If you choose Ringtone you can choose which ringtone to use.
5. To remove an IM account or change its login information, tap it.
6. Tap Remove Account to delete the IM account.
7. To add a new IM account, tap Add IM Account, and follow the procedures provided in the “Adding Accounts” section of this chapter.