iPhone users and testers alike agree that a major function missing from the iPhone application line up is instant messaging or chat software. Rumors abound about what Apple has in store for its iPhone customers, when they decide to release the first firmware update. iPhone customers that must have the latest and greatest have yet another option. This option lies in the alpha version (pre-beta and no where near gm or golden master) of Trillian Astra software from Cerulean Studios. They say that this software has been “designed for iPhone, it doesn’t just happen to work with it.” Apparently, they got the memo from yesterday’s report of the iPhone Developer Web Site.
The picture above shows the interface for the new Trillian Astra application. The program does look to be nicely designed and its interface is compact, which fits the screen well. The result is a single screen showing text conversations. The software updates your contact list and message windows, and enables the text messaging function as long as the Safari window is open.
The Safari buttons and the address bar are above the main screen, but seem to add no additional functionality. Links sent from others users when chatting, would open in Safari as it is the underlying program. It remains to be seen if that operation would also close your chatting session with your buddy. Chat links to outside sources could however, also open the iPhone to buffer overflow errors. These kind of errors are used by hackers to download programs to run viruses and worms. This is something Apple will have to keep an eye on. Providing low level access to the OS through Safari is definitely going to be an interesting show in the coming months.
Unfortunately, excited users willing to brave alpha software have to sign up to be a tester. The wait time to be accepted could take several weeks.