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Category: Social Networking
Developer: Beejive, Inc.
Requirements: iPhone firmware 2.0
Compatibility: iPhone and iPod touch
File Size: 1.2MB
Price: $15.99
Version Reviewed: 2.0.0

BeejiveIM is the premiere instant messaging app on the iPhone. It supports all of the standard IM services and brings some features that other clients don’t support, like file transfers and a notification system. But is all this and more worth $15.99?

First things first, it’s pronounced bee-hive I M. Now that we have that straight, I can start. BeejiveIM supports all of the IM protocols you’d expect, like AIM, GoogleTalk, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, and ICQ. I talked with the developer at Macworld, and they told me Facebook is coming.  Now, if only I could persuade them to incorporate a Twitter client too!

BeejiveIM’s interface looks and works superbly. It takes some time to get a grip on where everything is, but after a little digging, you’ll find everything. When you’re messaging someone, you can tap on the screen to bring up the keyboard to type.  You can also tap the middle of the title bar where the contact’s name is and you’ll get some options. This is where you can send an email (of your chat log), a pic, or a voice note. Files are uploaded to Beejive’s server where they can be accessed from an iPhone or a computer. They appear as links in the chat. Voice notes are of more than acceptable quality, and are uploaded very quickly because of their small size. You won’t be using this to save minutes on your iPhone, but it’s a neat feature.

Initially, I had a bit of difficulty finding the settings area. That’s because I keep forgetting that some apps use the iPhone’s system Settings app for configuration. BeejiveIM is one of those apps. I wish these settings were incorporated into the app since I don’t like having to quit it to change its settings. I’d much rather hit an “i” located somewhere, or an extra button for settings. It’s not a huge issue though, as you’ll likely only have to configure all of this stuff once.

If you’re having pre-spending phantom wallet pains, then consider this. You could use BeejiveIM to save money on your SMS plan. I know you’re thinking it’s not the best option, especially since Apple hasn’t started support for those Push Notifications they promised, like, four months ago, but it’s not bad. BeejiveIM can actually keep you logged in, even when you exit the application. If you receive a message, you’ll get an email (assuming you have it properly configured) telling you to launch BeejiveIM. If you have push email (Gmail), then you’ll get it right away. Just be sure to check you spam filter.  To send text messages, all you need to do is have an AIM account. BeejiveIM has access to all of your contacts on your iPhone, so it’s easy to add them for texting from the chat tab. It’s like getting unlimited texting for free…almost. That, alone for one month, could justify BeejiveIM’s price for some users.

[Note: Here’s a tip on how to use this for free texting. Set up a special account on AIM just for texting. Then, configure BeejiveIM to keep you logged in after exiting for as long as possible (1 day). That way, you won’t have to worry about not getting your messages. If you log out, they’ll just become email. Just make sure your friends know that you’re using AIM for SMS, since your messages will be coming from a strange number.]

Obviously, the big thing that turns people off of BeejiveIM is the price. At Macworld, I heard tons of people say things like “Why would I pay 16 dollars for an IM app I’ll only use occasionally?” And before I tried it, I agreed. After all, $16 is a little high for anything on the App Store. I tend to think they’d have more of a hit on their hands if they priced it more around $10. But, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. And with BeejiveIM, you’re getting a lot.

BeejiveIM is definitely the best IM app on the App Store. It has amazing features, like keeping you signed in after quitting, a notification system, and support for file transfers. There are only two things that I can think of that BeejiveIM is missing. The first is support for Twitter. It seems easy enough to do. I know it’s not exactly IM, but it’s very close, and I believe it would fit in well. The second is a bit of a problem for BeejiveIM. I’d like to see it be able to do real voice chat, not just voice notes. The problem is that it would likely get them restricted by Apple from use on cell networks, limiting them to only WiFi. Too bad, because then it would be far past amazing.

I highly recommend this app for anyone interested in messaging on the go. It’s a bit pricey, but if you IM a lot, then you need it. It’s already an amazing app, and it’s future has me excited.