Parlour

It’s a little bit strange. Writing something like an instant messenger for the iPhone shouldn’t be so hard. Granted, I know nothing about programming, but come on, the SMS app screams iChat. Why then has the first version of the iPhone a certainly entertaining yet also infantile YouTube app, but no IM? Edge should be more than enough for that.

You could even combine texting and instant messaging into one sleek app. The same is the case for MMS. You could also integrate that with the Mail app. For both tasks you wouldn’t even have to clutter that beautiful homescreen with one or two more icons.

So why leave it out? Here’s my entirely speculative guess:

When it comes to MMS, leaving it out could be all about leaving legacies behind. That may sound a little bit strange when it comes to something as new as MMS, but in times of unlimited data plans sending MMS just seems frivolous. The technology Apple wants us to use is E-Mail. Considering that MMS is not as widely used as, say, SMS and that more and more mobile phones support E-Mails this seems logical. But since there is also – as it seems – no way to send pictures from one phone to another with Bluetooth or Wifi this is certainly an annoying limitation. However, if this is really about leaving legacies behing, Apple won’t change its approach.

If leaving MMS out is about legacies, leaving IM out is certainly not about legacies. Granted, IM could become the new standard when it comes to short text messages. You know, with data plans and all. But texting is so wildly used, leaving it out would maybe spark off riots. So texting had to be included. Why then no sleek, tightly integrated IM/SMS app? My best guess: a concession to AT&T. I guess that data plans could be a serious threat for all carriers. When you can use VoIP, IM and E-Mail on your mobile all you need is an unlimited data plan. That’s not what the carriers want. Rather create new standards (MMS) than using existing ones.

It could certainly also be that Apple was just too lazy and slow, and that both, IM and MMS will come soon. Or they just like annoying their customers, I don’t know.

We’ll find out. Maybe even prior to the launch in Europe. On the other hand, I’m just hoping for a cool new iPod. Even if it had just some of the iPhone’s features, I would rather buy the iPod than the iPhone. 60 $ per month is just too much for a poor student (that I will hopefully be around that time of the year). On the other hand, the iPhone just seems so darn cool.