I have been using this application non-stop for around 2 or 3 weeks and it is one of the most-used application on my iPhone. It is no surprise that this is currently the top free paid application.

Ping! is like the Blackberry messenger, whereby it allows free message sending between iPhone or iTouch users. Zenical and me managed to get it when it was free for a couple of days, but now it is a paid application costing $0.99. For those of you who always exceed your monthly SMS limit like me, then this is probably the best solution. However, as good as it sounds, it does have its bad point. Ping! uses 3G/WiFi/EDGE connection, so if you don’t have some sort of monthly data plan, then this application won’t be as useful.

Options Menu & Interface

Ping! is a really easy application to use. Just think of it as a more personal MSN Messenger in the sense that it only allows one-to-one messaging. To start, just simply enter a desired, but available, username and you can message away. The interface is exactly like the iPhone’s SMS interface, so it should feel natural when you are using it. However, keep in mind that anybody in the world can also send you a message. All they had to do is enter your username as the recipient and they will be able to send you the message. So if you are some popular dude on the internet or whatever, it is probably advisable to choose a more private username =).

Changing Your Username / ID

In the latest update, you can change your username now if you are experiencing a situation like the one I have explained above. Simply go to the options menu by tapping on the bottom left gear icon and tap on “Unregister”. It is also nice to note that Ping! is running on a server, so it may not be online the whole time. You can check the server’s status in the options menu as well.

If you are concerned about your monthly data usage limit, I have tested it on my phone and one message will use up around 1kb (send/receive). It may be very little, but you should always be cautious and always keep track of your data usage.

So in the end, Ping! is a very useful application, but at the same time it is not for everybody. If you have an iPhone/iTouch and a decent monthly data plan, then I really recommend this application =). You can purchase it in the Application Store (iTunes will be launched upon clicking).

If you have some questions concerning the application, you can visit the official FAQ page, or email the developer at: support@pingmessaging.com.