Text Messaging is big business for the wireless carriers. This means that you either pay for a plan and stay within the limit (AT&T base plan 200 messages per month) or you go with an unlimited plan and of course pay more per month. Ping is an iPhone/iPod touch app that allows you to text message other iPhone/iPod touch users over the internet via your 3G, EDGE or WiFi connection with no monthly fees!
Ping gives you the look and feel of a standard Text Messaging app. Setup was pretty straight forward and within minutes I was sending and receiving Pings. One of the most important aspects of an app like this is Push Notifications. Luckily Ping! has it implemented well.
With Push Notifications you can receive alerts that you have just been Ping!'d even though the app isn't open at the time. This is very necessary for any type of instant messaging app. Ping! also uses its own alert sound so you'll know it's Ping! versus the built-in Messaging app on the iPhone.
Setting up Ping!
The initial setup requires that you setup a user name on the Ping! servers. Of course this account is FREE. At that point you can then start Pinging with other iPhone or iPod touch users who have installed the app.
Using Ping!
Once you have the app setup you create a new message and address it to another Ping! user using their Ping! username.
You can also create an email right from the app that you can send to your iPhone/iPod touch buddies with the link to go get the app and it will have your Ping! user name in it.
Once you have your buddies setup you can even link them to their respective Contact card in your Contacts so that it brings over their real name and photo. This way it will be easier to identify incoming Pings if they've used a strange user name.
The Bottom Line
Ping! works as advertised and I use it regularly with a couple of friends. It's also great because it brings iPod touch users to the messaging party. Of course that doesn't mean that I don't wish that it did more. For example, I'd like the ability to send/receive multi-media files such as photos, sounds and movies (taken with the iPhone 3GS). This probably would make the app hard to get approved because of sending all that stuff over the cellular networks and effectively cutting AT&T out of that potential revenue, but that doesn't mean that I don't want it. More importantly though I'd like to see compatibility beyond the iPhone platform. For example, Blackberry has a similar feature/app. It would be great if Ping! worked with Blackberry users too. This way the world would open up to you to be able to message more than just your iPhone buddies. Other than that, Ping! works and solves a problem for those on a messaging budget.
CORRECTION/UPDATE: You can use Ping! to send photos if you opt for the $0.99 in app upgrade.
You can get Ping! here from the App Store:
Ping!
Ping! allows you to send text messages to other iPhone/iPod touch users without the monthly fees usually associated with text messaging
- Gary Fung
- Get on App Store
- $0.99
All info was collected on 28th December, 2009 when the app was reviewed.
About Terry White
Terry is the co-author of The Best Selling "The iPhone Book" 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions. He has been active in the industry for over 25 years and is the founder and president of MacGroup-Detroit, Inc., Michigan's largest Macintosh Users Group, host of the Adobe Creative Suite Podcast and a technology writer - Terry White Tech Blog.
Dani here is the article on Ping!
While I like and use ping on occasion, apps like textfree or textnow seem to do a lot better for SMS messaging other mobile users. With the textnow app, I was able to set it up (by following textnow instructions) to receive SMS messages sent to my google voice number. When I reply to those messages, it appears to the the recipient that I’m SMSing from my google voice number when infact, I’m using textnow.
I tried some similar apps and this one too … the best one I used is the (Whatsapp) … you can send photos, videos and even audio files … and it works like a charm … it is absolutely better than ping and as far as I know it's free … maybe u should try this one out if u haven't already ..
thanx
Ping! The app I’ve stay away. Received some messages sent almost a month ago. Whatsapp is better. Addimh contacts was automatic. Good support. Only issue is… Some contacts has remove the app but it still shows them on the contactbook. Please review it.
I’ve love to see any app with short URL And quick reply features