Pocket PC Louisville - IM+ Review
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`https://web.archive.org/web/20031207184427/http:/www.pocketpclouisv...
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`47 captures
`7 Dec 03 - 5 Jun 09
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`NOV DEC MAR
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`2002
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`11-05-03
`John Becker
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`Close Window
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`IM+ Review
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`This review has been updated. The updated information is located at the end of the review.
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`Instant Messaging for the Pocket PC has finally become a true reality! Shape Services has introduced IM+. They offer the software for
`several platforms, including:
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`Pocket PC (ARM/XScale, MIPS, SH3 and SH4)
`Palm (Java version)
`Java Phones and PDA’s
`Sony Ericsson P800
`Series 60 phones (Nokia 7650, 3650, N-Gage, Siemens SX-1)
`Nokia 92xx phones
`Linux
`Windows 9x, 2000 & XP
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`There have been individual options for Instant Messaging on the Pocket PC over the past few years:
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`Yahoo Messenger had a client for the Pocket PC available (notice the past-tense). It worked great, but was a little cumbersome.
`In mid-2002, however, Yahoo upgraded the messaging servers to run Yahoo Messenger version 5.5. Without a word from Yahoo,
`the Pocket PC client failed to work after that!
`What a disappointment! I prefer to use Yahoo Messenger, since most of my friends use it at home. Needless to say, I just
`uninstalled the application and remained hopeful that it would someday work once again. Unfortunately, that has not happened -
`Yahoo must have given up on the Pocket PC users in the world. What’s funny is you can still find the program to download on the
`internet, however it will not work. It will pull up your Friends List, but it will not let you send or receive messages.
`AOL has AIM, but believe it or not, they charge $20 for the Pocket PC version when you can download the free PC version any
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`1 of 5
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`9/10/2014 11:00 AM
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1010, pg. 1
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`Pocket PC Louisville - IM+ Review
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`https://web.archive.org/web/20031207184427/http:/www.pocketpclouisv...
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`NOV DEC MAR
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`47 captures
`2002
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`7 Dec 03 - 5 Jun 09
`Microsoft offers MSN Messenger. I don’t use Messenger, however, because I don't have any friends who use it. NOTE: As of
`10/15/2003, all Pocket PC users must download and install an upgrade for Messenger because Microsoft changed their servers
`and protocol used for the messenger service. It’s a simple install. IM+ version 2.05 already supports the new protocol and you
`won’t need the update from Microsoft if you use IM+ instead of MSN Messenger!
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`Those are (or were, in the case of Yahoo) all separate applications, requiring space on your device and requiring you to juggle between
`each app when you want to message friends on the different services. What a pain!
`
`Alas! Shape Services has come to the rescue!!! Shape Services has developed an Instant Messaging program that combines MSN
`Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and ICQ! Okay… maybe that’s not so new, but this is different (and much
`better) than other similar programs you have seen on the net. Shape Services IM+ connects DIRECTLY to the messenger servers. It
`does not go through proxies or other connecting servers to make the connection. All you need is a TCP/IP connection to the Internet and
`off you go!
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`IM+ can be configured for just one, or all four of, the messaging services. You can connect to just one or all four at the same time. I have
`used the application with my Samsung i700 Pocket PC Phone from Verizon. It works beautifully. Immediately upon connection to the
`Internet, I opened IM+ and quickly configured it for Yahoo and AOL messengers. Within a minute or so, I was chatting online (it can take
`about a minute to connect to the service to pull your buddy list from each of the services). It is really that you don’t have to re-enter all of
`your friends into the software!
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`Messages are entered using the on screen keyboard. I quickly found that the Microsoft keyboard can cover up the SEND button making
`it difficult to send messages. So … I used MTUX SideX’s free keyboard program. You can drag it up or down so it doesn’t cover up the
`bottom of the screen. With a quick click, it’s moved out to the side. Personally, I just move the keyboard all the way to the top of the
`screen and it’s easy to get to the other buttons.
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`2 of 5
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`9/10/2014 11:00 AM
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1010, pg. 2
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`

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`Pocket PC Louisville - IM+ Review
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`https://web.archive.org/web/20031207184427/http:/www.pocketpclouisv...
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`Since I don’t have any friends on MSN, I couldn’t really test that feature. However I did create an account to check it out. I used ICQ
`years ago, but stopped using that when I started getting all these weird messages that resembled SPAM messages. I was surprised
`when I found ICQ still had my information stored in their database!
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`Emoticons are not displayed on the Pocket PC version, but they are converted to standard text automatically. People who use something
`other than a standard font for their messages (like bold or italicized text) will display something a bit crazy on the Pocket PC. I have one
`friend who set his Yahoo Messenger up to display his text in the bold font. Every line he would type came up with a little box character
`and a bracket followed by a ‘1m’ proceeding every line he typed. The italic setting does something similar. I just asked him to turn off the
`bold and it worked great! One of the other great features is you can also run invisible on Yahoo, just like the full version. That is
`convenient when you don’t have time to chat with everyone who happens to be online at the time.
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`Since these messaging applications are constantly being changed and upgraded for security, Shape Services is keeping up with the flow.
`Within days of the Microsoft change for the MSN Messenger, Shape Services had an upgrade available. Until the upgrade was installed,
`users were unable to connect to MSN Messenger. Yahoo has also recently changed protocols and Shape Services was there to fix their
`program quickly. I have to commend the programmers for keeping a good thing going.
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`Okay… with most applications there has to be some problems. Well… it’s true. Shape Services is in the business for making money and
`doesn’t want this program to be pirated by everyone. I honestly don’t blame them. They have developed a registration policy that the
`registration code will only work once. If you upgrade or replace your device, they can reset the registration code upon request. However
`they do recommend you do a FULL BACKUP of your device after installation and registration in case of the need to do a hard reset. I’ve
`learned that if I get to the point of a hard reset, I only reinstall a few of the applications. It’s most likely one of the applications I installed
`that forced the hard reset. I also pointed out to the company about their icon. It looks like a little eye. It looks perfect in the 16x16 size,
`but in the programs menu its enlarged to the 32x32 size and the icon contains garbage. The icon is installed under the start menu by
`default. I don’t like to scroll up and down, so I moved to my programs folder. That’s when I noticed the strange appearance of the icon.
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`Using the instant messenger online requires that certain ports are open for traffic. If you are using a cable router or a firewall, this may
`block those ports when your device is connected to a PC. The following ports need to be open for the messaging system to work
`properly: 80, 443, 110, 25, 143, 53, and 8080. This program was designed to work with a wireless Pocket PC, such as Verizon Wireless
`or T-Mobile’s Pocket PC phones.
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`3 of 5
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`9/10/2014 11:00 AM
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`BLACKBERRY EX. 1010, pg. 3
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`

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`Pocket PC Louisville - IM+ Review
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`On the point of registration… I had some difficulty registering the copy they sent me. (see update below) They acknowledged the
`problem and sent me a beta version that will work for 2 weeks to review that didn’t need to be registered (don’t ask me for a copy,
`because it will be ignored). They are working on the problem and will have it fixed soon. NOTE: the problem with registration doesn't
`occur on all devices. Many IM+ users register without any problems. Some special devices have problems, but not all devices.
`It’s a fantastic application and the company will go to all ends to make their customers happy. I was informed that version 2.06 fixed the
`registration problem, however I still can’t get the program registered. After entering the code, it just sits there. I had to click on one of
`the lower icons (AIM or ICQ or Yahoo) and it finally told me “Attention: Registration Term Expired!” I’m sure it’s only a temporary
`problem with their servers, but it can cause difficulties for the users.
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`The cost of the application is $29.95. It might seem a little steep, but look what you get! You get one application that takes up less
`space than even one of the standard messaging programs. IM+ installation file is less than 350K. Once installed, it only takes 576K of
`RAM. AOL Instant Messenger (by itself) takes 1.3 Meg of RAM. So… I recommend dumping the other applications and install IM+.
`Save that valuable memory and get four messenger programs all built into one! I do recommend that you install it to the main memory.
`Installing it to a storage card will seriously degrade performance. Perform a backup once the application has been installed in case you
`need to do a hard reset. Upgrades are free, however some upgrades may require a new registration code. Just send them an e-mail
`and they'll get you up and running again.
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`Shape Services also offers the Windows and Linux versions of their software for free. It does require Sun’s Java to be installed on your
`PC (which is also free). I like their application better than other multi-chat programs like Trillian or Jabber since they connect DIRECT to
`the services rather than going through relay servers. This means a lot since the messages are sent immediately rather than delayed. I
`tried Jabber on the Pocket PC and it took almost a minute for a message to go from Yahoo Messenger on the PC to the Pocket PC.
`This is unacceptable in the world of chat. Some people tend to think you don’t want to chat if you take too long to reply. The world has
`become so ‘instant’ that some people get upset if you take too long.
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`4 of 5
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`9/10/2014 11:00 AM
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1010, pg. 4
`
`

`

`Pocket PC Louisville - IM+ Review
`
`https://web.archive.org/web/20031207184427/http:/www.pocketpclouisv...
`
`47 captures
`7 Dec 03 - 5 Jun 09
`
`UPDATE - 11-15-03:
`Update to review for Shape Services IM+ version 2.07 - November 13, 2003
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`NOV DEC MAR
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`On November 10th, I received an email from Maria with Shape Services. I was informed a new version of IM+ (version 2.07) was
`available. They changed the way the registration works. It is now able to register automatically or manually. If your mobile phone
`provider or Pocket PC is unable to connect to Shape Services servers, you can now send them your 'installation key' and they will reply
`with a manual code to be entered for registration. With my Verizon phone, it would not connect to their servers, however after entering
`the manual code, it worked beautifully. It's now 100% fully registered without any worries. I still recommend making a backup of your
`device once the program has been installed and registered. That just makes it easier if the need arises to do a hard reset. The
`installation code will reset if a hard reset has been completed, so a backup is required. I don't like to do hard resets, but since I test so
`many applications, it's always a possibility. Shape Services will reset the code if necessary upon request. It only takes an e-mail.
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`I did find one bug (but it's not a big one) in the configuration screen. Each of the four services has its own icon at the bottom of the
`screen. You can configure each one using those without a problem. However, if you are in the configuration screen and select the drop
`down menu to select the other services, the actual server name doesn't change immediately. This means you might be attempting to
`configure AOL, but the server is still listed as Yahoo. If you click the drop down menu again and select AOL again, it will change to the
`appropriate server name. I found this by trying to set up all of the servers immediately after installation. It's not a big deal. Just delete
`the server name and it will automatically reappear as the correct server name. I'm sure this bug will be worked out soon in one of the
`next revisions.
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`I still recommend this application for anyone who wants to chat using instant messaging on their Pocket PC. It will work with either a
`Pocket PC Phone Edition, or a Pocket PC with WiFi internet access, USB connected or Ethernet connections. It's quick with sending and
`receiving messages since it's not going through another server. It's really a fantastic program and the size is amazing. It's 1/2 the size of
`the AOL Instant Messenger application alone, plus you have access to all four services! I never installed ICQ's Pocket PC version, but I
`can't imagine it would be smaller than IM+. After my last hard reset, I didn't even bother to install MSN's update. Shape Services IM+
`works fine without the update. No sense in wasting more of my precious RAM.
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`Special thanks to Maria Dyatlova from Shape Services for providing us with a beta copy of IM+ version 2.05 to review.
`An extra special thanks goes to her for understanding and getting the application working on my new phone.
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`
`5 of 5
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`9/10/2014 11:00 AM
`
`BLACKBERRY EX. 1010, pg. 5
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