eBuddy Mobile Messenger Beta (version 0.9.0) guide

[the andyman]

Preface:
JJK, one of the developer behind eBuddy Mobile Messenger, has said that at the moment they've decided to keep the application quite simple, but will be adding more features in the future based on user feedback. To give feedback on what features you would like to see in eBuddy Mobile Messenger or what you think about existing features then they have a feedback form that you can use.

eBuddy Mobile Messenger Beta

This guide is designed to help you start using the eBuddy Mobile Messenger beta client by walking you through how to download it and use the basic features.

If you need extra help at any time when following the steps below check the eBuddy Mobile Messenger support and if you still can't find a solution for what you need help with then post a reply to this thread.

• First of all, see if your mobile phone is supported by checking it on eBuddy's list using your browser
  

• If your phone is supported then you need to download the Java application. You can do this by either going to http://ebuddy.com/mob on your phone's mobile browser or if that doesn't work you can enter your number (without the first 0) at http://www.ebuddy.com/mobilebeta/download.php to be sent a "WAP push" text message which takes you to to the download page automatically.
  (If neither of these methods work go to http://ebuddy.com/mob on your computer and click the "Select a different phone" link, then select your phone manufacturer then model, and then click the download button to download the .jad file for the phone type that you selected. If the download does not work or if when you have transferred it to your phone [from your computer, usually using a cable or bluetooth] it does not run properly then click the "Downloading does not work" link on the same download page on your PC to download a .jar file instead.)
  

• Install then open the downloaded application and you'll be greeted with the splash screen.
  

• The application itself has a fairly intuitive interface that anyone who is familiar with their phone should be able to easily use.
  

• As it is a Java application it uses data to transfer information so your network/service/contract must support data (most do). This also makes it cheaper (a lot cheaper than sending SMS messages) as data transfer is often free on contracts and quite cheap on pay as you go (but be warned: the costs vary a lot on different networks and on different contracts; although many networks are beginning to lower data transfer charges in the UK it can cost anything from £0.10 to over £7.50 per MB). Also, eBuddy is designed to use minimal data when sending and receiving messages anyway. According to eBuddy data usage is about:

  Quote:20 minutes of intense chatting (about 50 lines): 0.06-0.08 MB
  60 minutes online with little activity: 0.03-0.05 MB
  [...]
  Here is an example if you pay € 5 per MB: with the typical data usage this could cost you:
  20 minutes of intense chatting (about 50 lines): € 0.30 - € 0.40
  60 minutes online with little activity: € 0.15 - €0.25
  Check your price-plan to see what you pay per MB of data usage!

  
  

• Select which IM networks you want to use out of Windows Live/MSN, Yahoo! and AIM (you can either one, two or all three at once) and enter the details for the ones you choose (you can edit your account details again later on if you want).
  

• Choose the status that you want to sign in as (it uses the same for all accounts).
  

• Select sign in, agree to the terms and it will start signing in for the accounts that you have chosen.
  

• When it has signed in you can change the settings it offers for all your accounts:
  - the status on them all
  - whether contacts are sorted by groups or online/offline status
  - the vibration and sound settings for when you receive a message
  

• ... And you can change the settings for each individual account:
  - the email address and password you use to log in
  - your nickname or personal message
  - whether to show contact nicknames or email addresses
  

• Different accounts and the groups within them can be expandedto see the contacts in them or collapsed to hide them.
  

• Contacts have a status indicator by their names (including showing which contacts are offline and blocked) and when contacts are hovered/selected over you have the option to chat with them with one push of a button or you can choose from other options such as viewing a simple profile of them which shows their full display name, email address and status.
  

• When you get sent a new message or you send one the conversation comes up in a new tab.
  

• In the conversation long contact names are shortened as is the name of the contact you are talking to which is displayed in the tab (which also shows the icon of the messenger network the contact you are talking to is on - and therefore the one you are using to talk to them on as well).
  

• You can then choose other options for your chat.
  

• If you choose to start a "conference" chat (like a group conversation in Windows Live Messenger) then it brings up a list of all your online contacts which you can select using checkboxes.
  

• You can easily send and receive nudges as well.
  

• Another useful feature are "quicktexts" which are pre-written by eBuddy and are very easy to select and send.
  

• Emoticons can also be sent, either by themselves or inserted into messages.
  

• Messages are timestamped and the time can be seen when a message is selected, as can the full message (as old messages are shortened to fit onto one line).
  

• When you compose message it uses your phone's usual input screen and the last message to be sent or recieved is scrolled above.
  

• Emoticons and quicktexts can also be inserted when writing a message.
  

• You can also easily add contacts by entering their account name (obviously different depending on which IM network you are adding them to).
  

• When you have finished chatting you can sign out of one or all your accounts, and it asks you to confirm first just to make sure.
  

• Signed-out accounts then have a cross next to them and give you the option to "connect" (sign in). You can also edit the account settings (the email address and password used to sign in with).
  

• When you have totally finished you can easily exit the eBuddy application (after confirming that as well) and it will disconnect you.

Looking at these events from the PC side of it:

• When a contact signs in using eBuddy Mobile Messenger it shows the usual toast showing their name, the default eBuddy display picture and tells you that they are on a mobile device.
  

• When you start a conversation with a contact using eBuddy Mobile you get the usual little message from Windows Live Messenger telling you that the contact you are chatting to is using a mobile device. eBuddy also send an auto-message telling you that the contact is not using the proper Windows Live Messenger client.

And it's all as simple as that!

>> If you need any help or support then please read the little note at the beginning of this post.

>> If you want to give any feedback to eBuddy about the application then fill in this form.

Other than that enjoy using eBuddy Mobile Messenger!


Notes: The phone used in the screenshots is a Sony Ericsson K750i using Alby's Vista theme.