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I really wish there was a defined API for "messaging service backend" that iOS/Android understood. (XMPP? IRC?) iMessage can intelligently switch between Apple's own backend and SMS depending on data connection and presence information; why can't I tell it about a contact's Facebook profile, or Twitter username, or BBM address, or WhatsApp username, etc., and have it transport the messages over whichever one looks to be most recently active?

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> Message can intelligently switch between Apple's own backend and SMS depending on data connection and presence information

I'm not familiar with the Apple implementation, but something similar was implemented by the Yahoo Messenger client app running on my Windows Mobile several years back, seamlessly switching from Internet data connection to SMS -- resulting in an SMS for every single outbound message and a bill of around $300 from AT&T for all those "OK" and "Sure" messages.

Fortunately for those of us without SMS plans, iMessage lets you turn off the SMS fallback, and displays a clear visual distinction when it gets used.

Windows phone does this with its in built "Me" app. Its quite neat, but consumes tons of data due to the constant syncing.

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