Until recently iPhone users were quite happy with the native Apollo IM application. Apollo was a great application for iPhone users to connect to AIM, ICQ, MSN and .Mac. However, of late Apollo has been riddled with authentication errors and instability woes and iPhone users once again have had to resort to Googling the next best thing.

Fortunately, there is an answer. Several actually... but unlike Apollo, these solutions come in the form of real-time online IM's built specifically to fit the iPhone screen. You simply launch Safari on your iPhone and enter the URL of the various providers, key in your IM details and you'll find yourself chatting to your mates on your favourite IMs again. No fuss.

Here's a list of URLs to get you started on your iPhone's Safari, listed in descending order of our preference:

• www.meebo.com
• http://m.ebuddy.com or;
• take a look at the Beejive instant messenger on the go beta

Diagram 1.0, Meebo IM on iPhone