A native iChat application is one of the most highly coveted iPhone additions, with users everywhere eagerly awaiting some sort of instant messaging solution that doesn’t require a jailbreak. Apple demoed a native AIM client during their SDK announcement, and it looks like there might be a bit more excitement in store. A recently revealed patent outlines an instant messaging client specifically designed for the iPhone. The application patent also includes a new predictive text implementation that displays several suggested word choices above the text entry box, as opposed to the auto-fill process currently in use. While a patent like this could end up languishing in virtual purgatory, we certainly hope Apple decides to include this in an upcoming firmware revision.
Apple files patent for iPhone IM
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