SMS Touch Hits the App Store
Wed, Nov 26, 2008
After keeping this under my hat for the last month, I received word this evening from Apple that HiveBrain’s new iPhone app will be hitting the US App Store in the next 24 hours. [Update, SMS Touch launched this morning and is available here.
To put it simply, SMS Touch enables iPhone users to compose SMS messages using Apple’s wider landscape keyboard. This is something that people have been asking for since I launched TouchType back in October. There were a number of challenges associated with making this work, the biggest being that it is not possible to send the body of a text message into Apple’s SMS application.
The work around involves routing text messages through Apple’s email program. Take a look at the video demonstration below for an idea of how it works.
I evaluated several alternatives, but eventually chose this approach because it allows iPhone users to send SMS messages and receive replies without incurring SMS fees. iPhone users already have unlimited email messages, so there is no reason we iPhone users should have to pay to communicate with people that only have SMS.
I hope people enjoy the app Please feel free to send any feedback to feedback@thisistech.com.
Tags: HiveBrain, iPhone, SMS iPhone, SMS Touch, TouchType
November 28th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Is this out yet??? I just checked the App Store but couldn’t find it… Can somebody confirm when is it out and will this work worldwide?
December 1st, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Great idea, is it built around something like this?
http://www.iphonehacks.com/2008/07/iphone-3g-sms.html
Also if you add picture messaging to this it will be must-have
seriously, please
December 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
@14,
Basically the same hack in the iphonehacks link, but it solves the part about figuring out which carrier the recipient has. SMS Touch automatically determines which carrier your friend is on and addresses the email appropriately. I am working on a number of improvements to the app, and will try to incorporate picture messaging, if possible.
Thanks for the feedback,
–Mike
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
nvm, got it to work. needed to set up default email setting on iphone.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Once I get a reply back…can I just reply back using my email? or do I have to close it and launched Touch type again to reply?
thanks!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Hi James,
You can reply using your email account if you like. It will go back to your friend’s sms account.
–Mike
Mike Schneiders last blog post..SMS Touch Hits the App Store
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Mike,
Thanks! That makes replying back much easier. All this time I’ve been sending my messages strictly using the application.
You guys kick ass keep up the great work!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Would it be possible to add a feature so you can choose which email to use? I created a new email account specifically for this. But I had to make that email address my default email on my iPhone.
Hope this request isn’t too big of a request.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Hi James,
You can choose which email account that you want to use on a case-by-case basis by tapping on the “Cc/Bcc, From” line in the email program, and then tapping on the “From” line. From there you can choose which account you want that particular message to be sent from.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Mike
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Ah never knew about that feature in the email app. Thanks again Mike for your quick reply and for saving us the cost of sending text messages! ^_^
December 7th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Disreguard above post. Reply wasn’t coming due to yahoo push email not working tonight. It is in my yahoo inbox online… Sorry for the mis post.
App is working as stated
December 13th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
For me the worst feature on the IPhone is the non landscape SMS. I am eagerly waiting to try your app. Any Idea when we might see it on the Australia app store sight?
January 4th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Ive been trying to use yoir app, but when i try send messages it gives me a message that says SMTP.aol.com and cannot deliver message how do I fix this?
January 4th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
ok nvm I got it, I switched to yahoo and it worked
January 5th, 2009 at 6:05 am
isn’t it working in Australia. i tried many times evry time i recved that “Message not sent Carrier not suported”. is there any1 who can help wit this issue.
thank u
January 5th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Hi Justin,
SMS Touch currently only supports carriers in the US. Out of curiosity, how did you end up with the application in Australia? We haven’t launched an international version yet, so currently the app is only available through the US App Store.
-Mike
January 18th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Hi, sorry if you have mentioned this before but does this app work in UK yet?
January 29th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Hi
I would like to use your app for a youtube video on my top 10 apps.
I will include how it is used and some cool features.
(I sent the same message to your youtube account)
Please
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Hey the app works great and I love it. What I wouldn’t mind is a feature that you can have preset messages. Hope it’s not too much of me asking. Keep up the great work!
March 28th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Is SMS touch available in canada yet