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Is there any?

What's the difference between iMessage and a standard chat app anyway? Apart from the Apple branding. From what I can see, its all the same. Samsung's phones have the Samsung Chat-on though.
 
iMessage is basically an Apple version of services that existed before there was an iPhone. Nimbuzz, Palringo and Ebuddy are services that existed since the heyday of Nokia phones and well, they do what iMessage does. More recent apps that do these are Whatsapp and Viber. iMessage just copied those services.
 
iMessage copied an aspect of those features, but introduced something those lack...fallback on carrier SMS, i.e., if you or the person you are texting currently don't have data (weak/no signal), it'll send it through SMS and keep it all under one conversation.

To the OP, the closest thing I found to iMessage is Handcent (link below), but it does require you to register for a free Handcent Online account. Once you and your friends register, you connect your Handcent Online account to the Handcent Android app, link your phones, and that will activate Handcent Talk. You can have it set up to automatically add anyone in your contacts as a friend, and when you message them, if they're online (basically have a data connection), it'll be sent as a HC Talk message and if they aren't online (i.e. no data), then it'll fallback to SMS.

One tip I found is that if you go this route, register your account through your phone. I tried setting up my account on my desktop and then link to my phone, but it ran into issues. When I did it through mobile, worked without a problem for me and my girlfriend.

- VDubb
 
chanchan05 said:
iMessage is basically an Apple version of services that existed before there was an iPhone. Nimbuzz, Palringo and Ebuddy are services that existed since the heyday of Nokia phones and well, they do what iMessage does. More recent apps that do these are Whatsapp and Viber. iMessage just copied those services.
Click to expand...

VDubb said:
iMessage copied an aspect of those features, but introduced something those lack...fallback on carrier SMS, i.e., if you or the person you are texting currently don't have data (weak/no signal), it'll send it through SMS and keep it all under one conversation.

To the OP, the closest thing I found to iMessage is Handcent (link below), but it does require you to register for a free Handcent Online account. Once you and your friends register, you connect your Handcent Online account to the Handcent Android app, link your phones, and that will activate Handcent Talk. You can have it set up to automatically add anyone in your contacts as a friend, and when you message them, if they're online (basically have a data connection), it'll be sent as a HC Talk message and if they aren't online (i.e. no data), then it'll fallback to SMS.

One tip I found is that if you go this route, register your account through your phone. I tried setting up my account on my desktop and then link to my phone, but it ran into issues. When I did it through mobile, worked without a problem for me and my girlfriend.

- VDubb
Click to expand...

And then there' the free app 'MySMS'! Does all of the above. Across all major mobile OSs. Free SMS-ing to others with MySMS, defaulting to mobile data – not texts! – when out of range of WiFi, etc.

But the clincher – for me – is the fact that you can send, receive, compose and attach-to MySMS messages from your laptop or desktop, with the convenience of a big screen and a fullsize keyboard! And you can keep your phone in your pocket*! With the free MySMS desktop application for Windows, OSX, or Linux! Or from any web browser if you're not on your own machine! Super convenient! :D

*Of course on my phone I can dictate my SMS messages too. So I also have the option of using NO keyboard and screen, neither small nor large! Perfect for in the car or when you're otherwise en-route!
 
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