AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has filed for a patent for for an Iphone interface for instant messaging. The filing makes the interface seem very similar to the SMS messaging interface already available on the Iphone.
Instant messaging has been a highly requested feature for the Iphone since it came out. There is a version of AOL instant messenger for the Iphone that was demoed when Apple released the SDK for the device, but Iphone owners everywhere are sure to be excited by the idea of a fully native application designed by Apple for the Iphone specifically.
There is no word at all on when Apple might release such an app to the public. Until then, you pretty much need to jailbreak the phone to get IM.
Here are some images from the patent filing which show what Apple has in mind:
Apple is blowing every other phone away with the Iphone. If only they didn’t force AT&T on me, I’d buy one.
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This will be a welcome addition, this along with MMS ability seem to be the big omissions so far. http://www.meebo.com along with a few others have made iPhone-style web based IM pages, but a real application will be superior. Let’s just hope it supports multiple clients and isn’t simply AIM only, in my experience, AIM useage is limited here compared with the USA.