Using EirText for Mac’s command line / Terminal commands:
All you need to do is launch EirText as usual and make sure that you have an account set up within the app. Make a note of your username and the network you’re using (e.g. O2.ie, VoIPCheap.com, etc). You can quit the app once you have an account ready for use.
Here’s an example of how it works:
If you’ve been following Apple news recently, it’s likely that you’ve heard the announcement that, as part of iOS 5, Apple will be introducing their own free iOS-to-iOS messaging service, called iMessage.
iMessage is integrated directly into the Messages app on iPhone, and is also available on the iPad and iPod touch.
If you’re an EirText user, this service may sound very similar to the EirText Push service that’s available in both the iOS and Mac versions of EirText (the latter being send-only). It is more or less identical. The obvious benefit is the integration with the Messages app - you’ll no longer have to jump back and forth between apps when sending and receiving push and SMS messages. In fact, iMessage will even determine whether to use SMS or push automatically - it’s seamless.
So, what does this mean for EirText and it’s push service? Does this signal the end of webtext and push messaging apps?
In short, no, I don’t think so, and here’s why:
what is selling point for EirText users outside Ireland?
I get asked this quite a bit, so I figured I’d post my answer here (especially since it’d take a lot more than 140 characters to answer).
There are a number of reasons users outside of Ireland are downloading EirText. The two most common scenarios are:
1. EirText is integrated with a large number of cheap, bulk SMS providers (Blueface, VoIPcheap, etc). These SMS providers usually provide SMS at matching, if not cheaper rates than the local carriers. They are almost always cheaper than the carriers for international SMS.
2. For Irish folk living abroad, they can text home for nothing using their existing O2, Meteor, Vodafone, Three, & eMobile accounts.
Prior to releasing EirText for Mac v2.0 on the Mac App Store, the app was sold via Paypal on my website. So far, the app has only been on sale for a week, but using the App Store as the sole method of distribution* has been the right decision in this particular case.
Discussing apps, development, and mobile platforms.
