The Problem With Agile Messenger

We loved Agile Messenger when it was free and man that has been for a few years now.  But something went wrong when it came to the decision making on starting to charge for this popular S60 IM application.  They turned into what we multi-device users fear... an IMEI lock-up company.

Now if you happen to own and use just 1 S60 device on 1 mobile number then you are safe, that is until you upgrade to a newer device.  Even that process won't be too painful.  But what about us users that have 2+ devices  with different providers that we use on a daily basis?  Or even the consumer with 1 provider and 4 devices?  (yes there are some out there, trust me)

I, for example, have both T-Mobile and Cingular and I'm always switching devices.  The way it is now if I chose to pay for Agile I would only be allowed to use it on 1 device at a time and l let me tell you, the price is not per application but per yearly subscription of $30USD.  I personally think they even did that wrong!!  Thats a hefty fee!!

I think the easiest way that this should have been done would be to use mobile number instead of the IMEI numbers.  That way us "sim-switchers" wouldn't really have that much to complain about.

How about this... just charge a little less than $30 bucks (maybe $10/ per year) and leave out the IMEI coding!

Comments

[xtina]

I was just thinking about this today too. My first e61 with agile messenger was stolen last month, and when I got my new one I realized I would have to buy it again, and I was not spending another 30 for the same thing. I decided to try IM+ this time instead. Though now that's beginning to give me other issues.

[Darla]

xtina, if your phone was stolen and they didn't replace the application for you, thats just bad business!!!

Did you contact them and give the the IMEI# of your new phone and explain the situation?

[xtina]

Actually, I didn't bother to contact them.. After I tried reinstalling and realizing it wasn't just putting in a serial number, I took it as an opportunity to try out the other application.
I've been reading your blog for a while, it's great!

[Darla]

@xtina,

Thank you for the compliment!! I really think since you've already paid for the app that you should contact them and let them know what happened. The most that they will do is ask for the new IMEI number and replace the app. :)

[Pakyooh]

xtina, you should try to contact Agile, they're actually fast with responses. I've been trying to resolve a port issue via wifi with them and they have been good with communicating back and forth.

about the post. Im actually one of the people that switch phones often. I love going back to my 6620 from time to time because it is much smaller than my current phone.

[FRiC]

This is a bit late, but Agile actually bases its registration on the SIM card, not on the device. So it's fine if you have more than one device, so long you're using the same SIM card.

Also, the subscription cost depends on your carrier. I happen to have two SIM cards from different carriers, and on one of them, I can get a 3-month free trial, and on the other one, I can get a special monthly price of about $0.50 deducted from my normal monthly charge, which is much cheaper than the one time fee of $44.95.

[Cherry_picker]

IMEI v’s Sim Reg ?

Here is my experience..

I demo’ed the Agile messenger among many others and found it to me the best that I could find. And I also switch sim cards and phone quite a bit.. and so dos the girl I com with …

From what I can gather..
The customer ID is linked to your IMEI No that’s reg’ed to your sim card..
Let me - give my reasoning?

I download Agile am to my N70 and register my customer Id every thing works fine till swap sim card over to my 6630 when find a need to register yet a copy of agile for this phone.

Then My N70 goes for a drink in the fish pond and MY supplier send out a new N70
Pop my old existing sim card into new N70 Bingo it still works !
So I got a new fone with same telephone number But a new IMEI
Ok then get a posh new N95 –
Pop my old existing sim card into new N95 Bingo every things works ! Again..

UNTIL I go back to the telephone supplier to reg the new sim card that came with phone.
That’s when it all fall over …

Again new IMEI and new sim card = lose off subscriptions at agile ?
Trouble is I gotta reg the new sim card and phone for insurance reasons …

I’m thinking that agile reads the IMEI that’s stored on the sim card and not the phone

If someone thinks im wrong please email me and explain as this has happened to my friend also …….
She chopped and changed sim card between phones and it worked fine until she upgraded her phone which came with NEW sim card..

Only other thout is maybe my telephone supplier dont like my getting my cheap rate SMS and used the opportunity to delete me out from AGILE…
(wild guess) …..

happy txting to all those that read this…

[rip]

It's also a onetime fee, i bought one just recently.
$49.95 usd

[Kessels]

Dear Reader,

I have a Nokia n80 and after a upgrade of software I lost my agile messenger. I wanted to download this again but I discovered that I needed to pay for the newer version :S
Does anybody have the old version wherefor I don't have to pay? (a link would be GREAT!!!)

Thanks,

Kessels