Meebo, a free web-based multi-protocol chat web application has released a version for the Apple iPhone. This marks a turning point for iPhone users where they can now use quite a few chatting sites all rolled into one.
The currently offered chat protocols include AIM, MSN, ICQ, Yahoo, GoolgeTalk and Jabber. The best part of the Meebo site is that it auto-detects the iPhone cellphone and serves up the iPhone-optimized website. This is quite helpful to anyone not wanting to click through several areas on a site to get to the iPhone URL.
Once a user is logged in, a Meebo account to the website is unnecessary, the contact list for that chatting protocol is presented. To start talking with a buddy, just tap on their name and chat with them normally. Friends that you already have a conversation going with already will appear at the top of the list so you can get a faster preview from the buddy list.
There are several methods to view the Meebo site like on any optimized iPhone website. The horizontal interface will present the horizontal keyboard which is much easier to use when chatting with a few buddies. However, the contact list works better in the vertical mode.
Graphics for the site are minimal, which is nice when using the iPhone’s EDGE data connection. One caveat for this site, like most Apple iPhone optimized sites, is that when you receive a phone call or text sms message, it closes the chatting connection. This is a security measure setup by Apple.
This is not a perfect situation after-all. All Web 2.0 sites geared towards the Apple iPhone cellphone, these can help rather than waiting for Apple to send us iPhone software to do the job. Via Wired.