Category: Social Networking
Developer: Gary Fung
Requirements: iPhone and iPod touch
Compatibility: iPhone OS 3.0 or later
File Size: 2.0 MB
What is it?
Ping! is an iDevice to iDevice messaging application (similar to BlackBerry Messenger on Blackberry smartphones) that makes use of Apple’s Push Notification service, and is said to be a replacement for SMS or other IM clients. Along with the regular version, there is also a free, ad-supported lite version of Ping! available.
How does it work?
Ping! uses data from a 3G/EDGE or WiFi connection rather than SMS messages, and therefore can potentially save users a lot of money. To use the app, you must create a free account, and then you’re free to send messages to others who are also using Ping! by obtaining their Ping! ID. A downfall to Ping! is that not everyone with an iPhone or iPod touch is going to have it installed, so you’ll be lucky if even some of your friends are using it. Still, you can inform people about Ping! and your Ping! ID right from within the app, as the developer included the ability to send a pre-prepared e-mail to your choice of contacts with information on how to obtain Ping! and contact you. Ping! also lacks the ability to add contacts and manage a contact list, and every time you clear a conversation with someone, their Ping! ID disappears as well, which can be quite irritating. However, push notifications are fully functional and fairly instant in my testing of the app, which is essential when trying to simulate a BBM-type app.
Features
- No monthly cost
- No roaming charges
- Faster delivery
- Works with iPod touch
- No need to log in/out
- No need to add friends
- Offline messages guaranteed
App it Up, Sum it Up
Ping is a quite decent iDevice to iDevice messenger, although it would be best if apps like these were developed by Apple and included on every iPhone rather than be developed by third parties. Still, Ping! is a great app for sending messages to friends who also have the app, and is definitely worth buying if lots of your friends do.
Cost – $0.99 (a free lite version is available)
Worth the Money? – If at least some of your friends also have the app
Availability – Now, in the iTunes App Store
This is a discussion on Hello!! within the New Member Introductions- Site Assistance forums, part of the Apple iPad Discussions category; Hi! i'm a real macfan! but that's not the reason i'm interested in the iPad the only apple product i own is an iMac 24",…