iPhoneText - send your free webtexts from your iPhone!

Basq

This has already been posted in the Apple iPhone Unlock / Sourcing but was sick of posting updates and getting lost among the 213 pages already in there.

Simply put, I put a very basic page together in which you can send your O2 / Meteor / Vodafone webtexts from your iPhone. I'm a mere designer of the page.. the actual scripting of sending the messages was created by Sam Vimes (and already has a very similar project sitting on Cabaal's webspace here).

Easiest way to use it:

• Go to iphonetext.basquille.net on your iPhone Mobile Safari browser.
• Login using your mobile number and password (along with selecting your operator) - screenshot.
• Now on the next page, enter the phone number of the person you're sending to and your message under it (maximum length of 160 characters only supported right now) - screenshot.
• And click the '+' arrow at the bottom of your browser and either add it as a bookmark or better yet, click the 'Add To Home Screen' so it's always accessible from there.
• You shouldn't need to log-in again but if you ever change your password or phone number, simply go back to iphonetext.basquille.net and login with your new credentials.

Any suggestions, problems or improvements, please do mention below. It's probably not gonna be much of an ongoing development as when Apple releases their SDK for the iPhone in the coming weeks, I may develop an app for use on the iPhone which will take into account your contacts etc.

Oh, and cannot finish this post without expressing huge thanks to Webmonkey, Sam Vimes and Cabaal for either helping with the development or answering some queries I put forth to them.

Random

You've gotta rename it iText and quickly!

Basq

random wrote: »

You've gotta rename it iText and quickly!

Nice.. but I already use an open-source application called iText when I'm developing at work - that's a Java library to output to PDF / RTF. See here!

But if anyone can think of a better name, do let me know. I'm open to suggestions!

Random

What about iSMS ?

Btw .. it's "Sam Vimes" and not "Sam Vines".

Basq

There's already a third-party iPhone SMS app caled 'iSMS'. Unfortunate as that would have been perfect!

Whoops.. don't know where I got Sam Vines from.. fixed!

Random

iTexter, iT.. . . I'm out of ideas

Sam Vimes

how about iWantCheapTexts

Basq

Sam Vimes wrote: »

how about iWantCheapTexts

Yeah, quite like that alright. Not sure whether to rename this or wait and use that name on the application I develop when the SDK is announced (in which it looks like will be on Thursday).

jester77

Few more suggestions for you:

iWebSMS
iSMSPortal

flywheel

basquille wrote: »

This has already been posted in the Apple iPhone Unlock / Sourcing but was sick of posting updates and getting lost among the 213 pages already in there.

no need to be sick!! why were you posting this in a thread that is just for discussing sourcing (i.e. where to get an iphone) and unlocking (i.e. getting an iphone running with any SIM you want) in the first place... i thought the title was clear, you even quote it yourself!

Basq

jester77 wrote:

iWebSMS
iSMSPortal

Not bad.. the 'iPhoneText' isn't very catchy so I'd say I will choose a new name for it alright.

DubWireless wrote:

no need to be sick!! why were you posting this in a thread that is just for discussing sourcing (i.e. where to get an iphone) and unlocking (i.e. getting an iphone running with any SIM you want) in the first place... i thought the title was clear, you even quote it yourself!

Well... to be honest, I thought that thread was for all things iPhone - not just sourcing, unlocking etc. My mistake!

And i suppose I just thought it was un-necessary to post a brand new thread until I could release a version I was happy with. Previous versions only let you send with O2, required you to log-in every time to send a text, and had 3KB images which would eat up your data charges (unless they were in cache of course).

KJF

How about iTight.
Only kidding. Looks good.

Random

Nice one that actually!

What about iWCT ! (want cheap texts ..)

bluemachaveli

Any chance of addin a webclip icon so it looks nice on my home screen?
Great idea, Thanks!

Basq

bluemachavel wrote: »

Any chance of addin a webclip icon so it looks nice on my home screen?
Great idea, Thanks!

Have added a webclip now alright but doesn't look great with the half-lit curved effect that it applies.

Might change it to something better later. If anyone cares to design one for me, I'd appreciate it.

fbradyirl

Great thanks for the app. I was thinking of doing this myself when the SDK comes out as well. I have created JSMS in Java (not sure how easy / hard it would be to port this into an iPhone app - prob need to learn Cocoa). It would be nice to have all the contact functionality etc in an app version. Anyway great work looks v cool.

Basq

Cheers fbradyirl, it's very basic for the time being.

I actually use your JSMS app.. tis excellent. Yeah, need to patch up on Cocoa myself also.

Santa Claus

Looks great, will definitely be using this when I get my iPhone.
As for names, how about iMess ?

db40

This web app is great thanks. Such a pity you can't copy and paste numbers on the iphone.

Name - bText or basText or Aztext

LostinBlanch

I saw this on Damien Mulleys blog. You have to scroll down to get to Fring for the iphone - skype, msn, im etc etc. Linky

Not sure how good it is as I don't have an iphone and won't get one until the price comes waaaaay down. But it looksinteresting. I wonder can you get it on ordinary phones?

Basq

LostinBlanch wrote: »

I saw this on Damien Mulleys blog. You have to scroll down to get to Fring for the iphone - skype, msn, im etc etc. Linky

Not sure how good it is as I don't have an iphone and won't get one until the price comes waaaaay down. But it looksinteresting. I wonder can you get it on ordinary phones?

Oooohh.. news to me!

PS - it's very good. In early stages and occassionally buggy (not to mention quite a drain on my battery, as it runs in the background unless you specifically exit it) but works very well with Skype and Google Chat.

bindybandy

Hi there - That looks like a brilliant app and fair play to you for making it.
I'm not sure how to ask this next question at the risk of offending you but how are we fixed securitywise here?
I'm on Vodafone myself and don't think they have a secure login as it is to get into my acc and do webtexts so maybe your site its just the same anyway but just wondering? I'd hate to come into work some day and have someone say "oh did ya hear about that site people used to use for sms on their iphones? Yeah well the site was hacked etc and someone made off with all the phone numbers and login info etc"

Again don't mean this to come acorss all negative but just wondering like?

Cheers

Basq

bindybandy wrote: »

Hi there - That looks like a brilliant app and fair play to you for making it.

Hi bindybandy.. cheers for the comment.

I can't take any real credit for the app as I just made the interface - the main work was done by Sam Vimes.

bindybandy wrote: »

I'm not sure how to ask this next question at the risk of offending you but how are we fixed securitywise here?
I'm on Vodafone myself and don't think they have a secure login as it is to get into my acc and do webtexts so maybe your site its just the same anyway but just wondering? I'd hate to come into work some day and have someone say "oh did ya hear about that site people used to use for sms on their iphones? Yeah well the site was hacked etc and someone made off with all the phone numbers and login info etc"

I don't store any login details or phone numbers. When you first login and you bookmark the page, your login details are stored in the address (e.g iphonetext.basquille.net?u=086XXXXXXXX&p=password).

So your login details are stored locally on your phone, and messages are routed through O2 / Meteor / Vodafone (not stored on my server, or any database).

I plan on releasing an actual application soon enough but iPhone development is limited to web apps for me as I don't currently have the Leopard operation system (which is required for developing iPhone apps).

Sam Vimes

basquille wrote: »

I can't take any real credit for the app as I just made the interface - the main work was done by Sam Vines.

there's a saying that there's no such thing as bad publicity as long as they spell your name right. unfortunately you didn't

having written the script i can confirm that no details are stored. you can get the script to see for yourself here:
http://cabaal.org/cabbage/server_side_source.zip

Basq

Sam Vimes wrote: »

there's a saying that there's no such thing as bad publicity as long as they spell your name right. unfortunately you didn't

having written the script i can confirm that no details are stored. you can get the script to see for yourself here:
http://cabaal.org/cabbage/server_side_source.zip

Sorry Sam. Not the first time i've done it either. Apologies - fixed!

And no details are stored on my side either.

smcelhinney

Guys guys guys.. re: the name.

Its quite CLEARLY iPissedAndTextedTheExAt2AmAgain

give in...

Basq

smcelhinney wrote: »

Guys guys guys.. re: the name.

Its quite CLEARLY iPissedAndTextedTheExAt2AmAgain

give in...

Catchy!

Oh.. and for anyone who's interested (with regards to security concerns etc.), here's the source files. (9KB)

Sam Vimes

basquille wrote: »

Sorry Sam. Not the first time i've done it either. Apologies - fixed!

np

bindybandy

basquille wrote: »

Hi bindybandy.. cheers for the comment.

I can't take any real credit for the app as I just made the interface - the main work was done by Sam Vimes.


I don't store any login details or phone numbers. When you first login and you bookmark the page, your login details are stored in the address (e.g iphonetext.basquille.net?u=086XXXXXXXX&p=password).

So your login details are stored locally on your phone, and messages are routed through O2 / Meteor / Vodafone (not stored on my server, or any database).

I plan on releasing an actual application soon enough but iPhone development is limited to web apps for me as I don't currently have the Leopard operation system (which is required for developing iPhone apps).

Thanks that sounds great my mind is at ease now so I can't wait to try it - pain in the ar$e trying to do it on the iphone on vodaphone site - takes ages sometimes!

rebel.ranter

iAFT ?

iAFText

iAFSMS

Random

iT.

su_dios

Love this program. Would love to see the interface developed though to match the iphone one.

If you've ever seen meebo.com or iphone.beejive.com you'll know what I mean. i.e. like the settings panel on the phone. The graphics must already be out there for you and I'm sure there are tutorials too.

If you did that then there would be no need to run it as an app really as a webapp can be launched from the desktop. You already have the set up

This ( http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/os-eclipse-iphone/ ) may be of help!

Basq

random's sig wrote:

No results found for basquille.
Did you mean bascule (in dictionary) or Bascule (in encyclopedia)?

Cheers for the sig mention!

su_dios wrote:

Love this program. Would love to see the interface developed though to match the iphone one.

Yeah, I would have developed an app for the actual iPhone but like I said, I don't have a copy of Leopard to develop on.

The actual interface (of conversations etc) might be difficult given the limitations of a webapp running on a single page.

Might plan a redesign and relaunch of the webapp during the week though.

Will keep you informed here.

su_dios

I don't get the limitation of converstations on a single page bit?

Check out this interface for the iphone http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/iphone/ on ur pc. These work really well and don't require pages to be constantly loading, they're fairly fluent as if running an app itself.

Basq

su_dios wrote: »

I don't get the limitation of converstations on a single page bit?

Check out this interface for the iphone http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/iphone/ on ur pc. These work really well and don't require pages to be constantly loading, they're fairly fluent as if running an app itself.

It is possibly.. but it's a limitation in that I would need to store messages in a database or CSV.

And to be honest su dios.. I don't think anyone (including myself) would feel comfortable with their messages being stored in a database somewhere and being loaded.

Especially when I don't have an SSL cert for sending this information to a database.

RememberTheMilk do charge for their product.. so they can afford an SSL cert or some sort of security. Also the information recorded in this would be a helluva lot confidential than peoples text messages.

su_dios

Ah I see! Well what about leaving the convo bit out of it then? Just include a phonebook, input for messages and a message counter or something? The program has a lot of potential. I would still love to see this as a proper app with sdk but if not then I think webapp could still work well and its very much appreciated by the masses

Basq

su_dios wrote: »

Ah I see! Well what about leaving the convo bit out of it then? Just include a phonebook, input for messages and a message counter or something? The program has a lot of potential. I would still love to see this as a proper app with sdk but if not then I think webapp could still work well and its very much appreciated by the masses

A phonebook would also recording storing of confidential information though. I can implement it very easily using SQLite but I'm not sure people would be comfortable in recording this information.

A message counter? For detecting the 160 character limit you mean? Yeah, this can be done alright.

Basq

Am gonna upload a new version later this week which will store names and phone numbers.

EDIT: Just to address something su_dios said earlier:

su_dios wrote:

Would love to see the interface developed though to match the iphone one.

If you've ever seen meebo.com or iphone.beejive.com you'll know what I mean. i.e. like the settings panel on the phone. The graphics must already be out there for you and I'm sure there are tutorials too.

During the early stages of it's development, it did use images that were like the iPhone images.

But the problem is the main reason for the application is it's a money saver (as in if you were to access it over EDGE, it would cost less than sending an actual text). But if you were to bring in a couple of graphics (about 2KB - 3KB each), it would increase the data accessed and would probably cost even more than sending a text.

Basq

Updated today.

Can now save phonebook entries.. some minor adjustments still to be done on it such as:

• the whole viewport thing when you snap to a textbox and then out of it needs to be analysed and improved.
• you need to refresh when you save a new phonebook entry for it to appear. Will change this later so it'll automatically update - just needs a bit of Ajax in there.
• might work on improving the appearance of it more.

Feedback and suggestions are welcome (as always).

Basq

Any feedback on the latest version..

db40

It's great. Thanks a million for your work. I guess there's no complaints. If I think of anything after a while of using it I'll post it.

Basq

Cheers db40.

Much appreciated. Do let me know if you've any suggestions or problems.

Huggles

Hi Basquille, I started to use this yesterday. My only feed back would be to maybe have a "message sent" screen of some sort, when I first used it I sent the text like 6 times lol.

Just an idea, great product though

Basq

Cheers Huggles. Was away for the weekend so will draw up a more obvious notification this evening or at some point this week.

dunkindonuts

Huggles wrote: »

Hi Basquille, I started to use this yesterday. My only feed back would be to maybe have a "message sent" screen of some sort, when I first used it I sent the text like 6 times lol.

Just an idea, great product though

I would second that, otherwise the software is great.
Also is there no way of adding the contacts to the software phonebook, finally can it be used for multi text

Basq

Don't know if anyone noticed but iPhoneText has been down for the past few days!

It was due to hosting the podcast interview with DeVore earlier this month - my bandwidth of 10GB was exceeded at the weekend.

Should be back up on the 1st of the month (Sunday) and might implement a few changes into it over the weekend.

whisht

How about calling it - iLikeText (it's Nice!) - Borat reference

ch750536

Can you run JSMS from your IPhone?


http://jsmsirl.sourceforge.net/JSMS/JSMS.html

Basq

ch750536 wrote: »

Can you run JSMS from your IPhone?


http://jsmsirl.sourceforge.net/JSMS/JSMS.html

Nope, that's a Java application. Not possible.

mrs.ljungberg

Hi I have been trying to get this working on my Iphone for about an hour now but it wont work for me. I keep getting a message 'Invalid Login/Failed to connect
Im on meteor, any ideas?

Basq

mrs.ljungberg wrote: »

Hi I have been trying to get this working on my Iphone for about an hour now but it wont work for me. I keep getting a message 'Invalid Login/Failed to connect
Im on meteor, any ideas?

Someone else told me they're having problems with Meteor.. they may have changed the structure of logging in / sending text messages.

Will look at it later. But I recommend using Freeteor / EirText.. it runs natively on your iPhone and uses your contacts (has support for Vodafone and O2).