The problem with Apple's iMessage

[Elimentals]

And is it device aware - i.e., it picks up on which device you're using it and "mute" notifications on the other?

I use GTalk as well, but it has another flaw and that is that people are not guaranteed to be online. On Android this is less of a problem as most people are permanently signed in. But on other devices, there's no guarantee that people will be signed in, making it a poor substitute for SMS (and subsequently, iMessage). At least I know I can always send an iMessage and it will get there (even fall back to SMS if necessary).

BBM has this advantage as well - there's no way to "sign out" of it.

Gtalk has a fall back as well, it sends a Email if the user is not online for a long time.

And I use DND (Do not disturb on SMS's) so you can decide who and when people can contact you. This where people suspect that you should always be available is bull****. even more so when you work and friends are all over the timezones.

 

[ebendl]

I agree - I don't expect people to think that I am always available. That's why iMessage is actually better in that it doesn't have a "Available" status - people treat it the same as SMS. The advantages are that you can send whatever you want (text / pictures) and don't have to worry about high fees. And it indicates whether the message has been delivered or not.

I do work with friends and colleagues across different time zones. And for these I use GTalk and Skype and sign off when I don't want to be disturbed or are not available.