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Text
Messaging Using AIM on your phone
General Questions
Text messaging (or Short Message Service—SMS for short) is like e-mail for your wireless phone, only your carrier limits the number of characters you can receive in these messages (typically, from 150 to 160 characters). The text can be comprised of words or numbers, or an alphanumeric combination. You can use the short message service while you are talking on your wireless phone. This means, while you talk you are able to receive and send messages. Note that not all SMS-enabled phones can send AND receive messages. Some are only one-way, so, if you plan on using that function, check with your wireless carrier. The AIM service using Text Messaging requires two-way text messaging service from an authorized wireless carrier. In order to send and receive text messages, phone users usually have to pay a monthly fee to their service provider or a small fee for each text message. Some companies even offer text messaging free of charge. With some exceptions, most plans do not automatically include text messaging. To find out if your plan includes text messaging, call your carrier directly. Text
messaging is also known as: Short Message Service, SMS, Text Messages,
Text Messaging, Mobile Text Messages, or Texting. How you send a text message will vary for each phone, so see your user documentation for specific instructions. Basically, to send a text message, you select the "Write Message" option from your phone's text messaging menu. Next, enter your message using your phone keypad. (For more information on typing messages on your phone, see Typing Messages.) To send the message, enter the recipient's phone number and press Send. After a few moments, the recipient receives your message in their text messaging Inbox and their phone may alert them of this with a special tone or by vibrating. What is AIM service using Text Messaging? How does it work? The AIM service using Text Messaging uses your phone's two-way text messaging service capabilities for instant messaging. If you've used your phone's text messaging function, then you know that you can type a short message, enter the recipient's phone number as the address, and send the message. Any text messages you receive on your phone arrive in the text messaging Inbox on your phone. The AIM service using Text Messaging works the same way. While the AIM service on your computer shows all of the sent and received comments in one window as a complete conversation, the AIM service using Text Messaging contains each comment in the conversation in a separate text message. To use this service, you create a text message and send it to a specific Instant Message (IM) number assigned to a screen name in your Buddy List feature. You can send instant messages from your phone to any AIM user, using any supported device—for example, you can communicate with AIM users on phones, computers, or PDAs. You also manage your Buddy List feature and perform other AIM functions by sending text messages to IM numbers assigned to AIM commands. For example, signing on to the AIM service or adding a new screen name to your Buddy List feature. When the command is completed, the AIM service sends you a text message. The IM numbers for both the AIM commands and for the screen names in your Buddy List feature are assigned by your wireless carrier. Because there will be several IM numbers for you to remember, you may find it easier to create entries in your phone book for the AIM commands and the screen names that you instant message with from your phone. This will also reduce the amount of typing you need to do from your phone keypad and the time it takes you to write and respond to messages. How is the AIM service different from text messaging? Unlike basic text messaging services, with the AIM service using Text messaging, you can:
How is using AIM on my text messaging phone different than from using it on my PC? There are a few differences between using the AIM service using Text Messaging and using the AIM service on your computer:
How do I send an instant message from my text messaging phone? You send instant messages just as you would send text messages. For screen names listed in your Buddy List, you send the message to the IM number assigned to that screen name. For unlisted screen names, send the message to the number for the AIM-Unlisted command. See the documentation for your phone for instructions on sending text messages. How
do I view messages? How
do I reply to an instant message? For screen names that are not saved in your Buddy List feature, reply to the AIM-Unlisted phone book entry, making sure that the reply message begins with the person's screen name followed by a colon and space. See your phone's documentation for information on how to use the Reply feature) How
do I get notified when an instant message arrives? Can
I change my AIM password using my text messaging phone? In addition to sending a separate text message for each part of your your conversation, you also send a text message for the commands used to manage your AIM service. For example, you send a text message to the AIM-SignOn command to sign on to the service, and another text message to the AIM-Buddies command to get a list of the online screen names from your Buddy List feature. The AIM service will send you a text message back confirming your actions. The IM numbers for the AIM commands may be different for each wireless carrier. What are Instant Message (IM) numbers? How do I get them? Like a phone number, you use Instant Message (IM) numbers to send instant messages and to manage the AIM service from your text messaging phone. IM numbers are assigned by your wireless carrier and may be different for each carrier offering the AIM service. If you use the AIM service on your computer, IM numbers are automatically assigned to up to 30 screen names in your Buddy List feature the first time you sign on to the AIM service from your phone. The screen names with IM numbers are moved to a Buddy Group called the Mobile Device group—think of this group as your Buddy List feature that you use when you're on the go. There are a few ways that you can get the IM numbers for the AIM commands and your Mobile Device group:
To make instant messaging easy on your text messaging phone, create phone book entries for the AIM commands and the screen names that you tend to instant message with from your phone. This way, you won't have to remember the IM numbers and this information is easily accessible each time you want to send instant messages. How is my Buddy List feature different on my phone? With the AIM service using Text Messaging, you can access your Buddy List feature just as you can on your computer to find out which of your friends, family members, and co-workers are online and available to instant message with you. The primary difference when using the AIM service from your phone is that you are limited to accessing 30 screen names from your Buddy List feature. The first time you sign on to the AIM service from your phone, a new group (the Mobile Device group) is created in your Buddy List feature. The Mobile Device group is your Buddy List feature that you use when you're on the go—you can keep up to 30 screen names in this group that you use for instant messaging from your phone. To find out who from your Buddy List feature is online, send a text message to the IM number for the AIM-Buddies command. You'll receive a text message back listing the screen names that are online, away, and offline. Can I add screen names to my Buddy List feature from my phone? Yes. To add screen names to your Buddy List feature from your phone, send a text message containing the screen name to the IM number for the AIM-Add command. You'll get a text message back confirming that the screen name was added to your Buddy List, and also the IM number assigned to the screen name so that you can send the person a message or add this information to your phone book. If you sign on to the AIM service from your computer, you'll see that this screen name was added to the Mobile Device group in your Buddy List feature. What is the Mobile Device group? Just as you can group the screen names in your Buddy List feature into categories like Buddies, Family, or Co-Workers, the Mobile Device group is a group for your screen names that you converse with when you're on a mobile phone, AOL Mobile Communicator, or other mobile device. The Mobile Device group is created for you the first time you sign on to the AIM service from your phone. This group is limited to 30 screen names—if you add more than 30 screen names to the Mobile Device group, only the most-recently added ones will be retained. An easy way to manage your Mobile Device group is to use the AIM or AIM Express service on your desktop computer. This way, you can see the complete list in a glance and edit the group using an intuitive, graphical interface. You can also add or remove screen names by sending a text message to the AIM-Add or AIM-Delete commands. When you use these commands, type the screen name of the person you want to add or delete in the body of the message. You'll receive a text message back confirming your change. For more information, see What is the Buddy List feature?. Why should I set up my phone book? Setting up your phone book with the AIM commands, the screen names in your Buddy List, and the IM numbers for each is recommended as the easiest way to use the AIM service with your text messaging phone. This way, all the information you need is immediately available for you and you won't need to look up or remember the IM numbers for your friends or the AIM commands. Do the IM numbers for the screen names in my Buddy List feature ever change? The IM numbers for the screen names in your Buddy List feature should not change unless you delete a screen name and then add it again at another time. When you delete a screen name from your Buddy List feature, the IM number assigned to that screen name may be reassigned to any new screen names that you add. How can I keep my phone book and Mobile Device group in sync? When you delete a screen name from your Buddy List feature, it is important that you also delete that screen name's entry in your phone book. This is because when you delete a screen name from your Buddy List feature, the IM number assigned to that screen name may be reassigned to any new screen names that you add. To ensure that your phone book entries and your Mobile Device group are in sync, send a blank text message to the IM number for the AIM-Settings command. You'll get a text message back listing the IM numbers for the AIM commands and the screen names in your Mobile Device group. Compare this information with what you have in your phone book. I signed on to the AIM service, but haven't received any messages. Why? If your phone has alerted you to new messages (with a beep or by vibrating), check the text messaging Inbox on your phone. This is where you'll receive new instant messages. See your phone's documentation for information on accessing this Inbox. What happens if I don't sign off the AIM service? If you don't sign off the AIM service, any friends who have you in their Buddy List feature will continue to see that you're online, and you will continue to receive instant messages. If you sign on to the AIM service from another location (for example, from your computer), you'll be signed off from your phone. What happens when I turn the phone off? If you turn
off the phone without signing off, you'll continue to be What happens if my phone service is unavailable? If your phone service is unavailable, you will not be able to send or receive any instant messages or perform any other AIM functions. If you are signed on, you will continue to be signed on to the AIM service and people can send you messages. Any messages you receive while your phone is off will be delivered once you turn your phone back on. How do I reduce the clutter in my Inbox? To reduce the clutter in your Inbox, delete instant messages as you read them. This way, you'll have enough space on your phone for new instant messages or for important messages that you want to save. |
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