Apple's new iMessage may sound like a simple idea in reality--the app lets you send text messages to other iOS 5 devices via data instead of SMS automatically--but it seems some users are confused over how it works.
Fret not, however, as we're here to help. Once you get up and running (and have plenty of friends with iOS 5 devices), you're likely to end up saving on your SMS count.
Setting up
To make sure you're able to use iMessage on your iOS device, simply go to your settings and make sure it's turned on. Also, if you have multiple accounts, make sure the Apple ID that you normally use is associated with iMessage, but if it's not, you may want to add it in.
How does it work
iMessage works by automatically checking to see if the contact you're sending messages to has an Apple ID associated with the device. If it is, the message will get sent as an iMessage instead of the usual text message. You can also tell whether it's an iMessage or a normal text via the color bubbles--iMessages are blue while normal text messages are green.
You will be able to tell if you're sending as an iMessage or a normal SMS.
The colors of the chat bubbles also tell you whether it's a regular chat session or one using iMessage.
This means you can send messages to iPad owners, and they can also send them to you. The only caveat here is that they need to have contacts synced on the iPad (which most people don't bother with). Otherwise you can enter their Apple ID email in the contact field. If they own both an iPad and another iOS 5 device, messages will get pushed to both devices.
Do I know if it's sent?
If you're using iMessage, at the bottom of your last sent message you will see a "Delivered" note. It's as simple as that. Like instant messaging, iMessage also tells you when a user is preparing to send text. This is represented by the ellipsis in the message thread.
What if I don't want to accidentally incur charges while overseas?
If you're worried about using roaming SMS when your Wi-Fi connection drops while on holiday, don't panic. iMessage has a setting that disables the sending of SMS, so if you just want to stick to using data for texting, turn this off.
Alternatives
If iMessage just isn't for you, there are a whole bunch of messaging apps that you can use. WhatsApp is pretty popular, though its servers tend to go down occasionally. Unlike iMessage, WhatsApp works on most platforms, including Android and Symbian, which makes it a great way to stay in contact with your friends, even if they don't use Apple products.
Besides WhatsApp, users can also try out Pingchat (which came out at around the same time). A new service, Line, which features cutesy emoticons and free voice calls, seems to be a popular alternative too.