Trying out Globe’s Unlichat (no luck with Smart Uzzap)

This post should have been “A look into the Smart’s Uzzap and Globe’s Unlichat” but after several attempts at getting Smart’s Uzzap application installed on my mobile phone I’ve just given up on using it. I’ve gotten to the point that after several attempts I was able to install the software but I just couldn’t login in. I hope you had better luck than I did. It would have been nice to see how they paired up on their Instant Messaging services.

Downloading of the Globe Unlichat application happened with actually no frills. I went to the unlichat web page, typed my mobile phone number. Globe sent me a link for the application download and I got the application installed on my mobile phone in no time. The application doesn’t seem to work over wifi if you have a wifi-equipped mobile phone. You’ll have to use the Globe network to use it.

After installing the Globe Unlichat application on my mobile phone, I was able to start using it by logging in straight away into my Yahoo Messenger account. In contrast, with the Smart Uzzap application you’ll have to register first before starting to use the service. Too bad I wasn’t able to login to check out the Uzzap application.

Both of them are still in the beta stage so I’m hoping that things will be better once they go into production. After logging into your Yahoo IM account, you’ll see a screen with your userid and a list of your online buddies and an indication of their current online status. One thing I quickly noticed is the lag in the application plus when your buddy is offline and suddenly goes online, it doesn’t seem to reflect on the status.

Upon clicking on the menu, you’ll see some familiar functions like Add Contact, Contact Options and Settings. Under Contact Options you’ll be able to display information about an online buddy or start a conversation. Under User Options, you can change your online status.

I quickly tried out chatting with an online buddy. Starting a conversation will bring up a chat screen where you can type in your messages. You can start a conversation with another buddy simultaneously. Unless you have one of those mobile phones with a keyboard, you’ll have to do with your numeric keypad.

One nice feature of the Unlichat application is creating shortcuts. You can create shortcuts to standard messages that you typed in regularly and save them. Later, instead of re-keying the message, you can just select and insert them while chatting.

You can also send some of those familiar smileys that we all use when we chat online. Even at beta, the Unlichat service was already quite usable with one glitch that I noticed — network lag. It takes several seconds before the message can be received on the other end. This is something that I hope Globe would fix before it goes into production.

If you’re feeling up to it, you can try the service yourself by visiting the Unlichat web site. You can also visit the Globe Unlichat FAQ page for more information. The service is free until October 4, 2008. You’d also need one of the mobile phones below because they’re the ones the are currently supported.

Nokia: 3230, 5700, 6120c, 6630, 6680, N70, N72, N73, N76, N80, N82, N91, N95, E51, E65
Sony Ericsson: K610i, K770i, K800i, K810i, W810i, W910i, W850i, W880i, W660i

The Unlichat service, once it’s launched, is 25 pesos for unlimited use for one whole day, P100 for 5 days unlimited access and P200 for 15 days unlimited access. It’s a good alternative to SMS if you’re a heavy SMS user since it allows you to chat with several buddies in one session.

Update: Finally got to try and write about Smart Uzzap.