Best iPhone and iPod Touch Social Networking Applications

[Sean J]

1. Fring

fring is a free mobile application that lets you communicate with your friends on popular networks over their mobile phone's internet connection. It allows you to make free voice calls, free video calls (one way) and live IM chats directly from your iPhone and iPod touch on fring & other internet services like Skype, MSN Messenger, GoogleTalk, AIM, ICQ , Facebook & Twitter, all through one central, integrated phone book. It's free to download and free to use to make calls, video calls, instant messages and more, all via your mobile phone's internet connection (over 'IP').

2. LoKast

LoKast is one of the hottest new apps! LoKast works on iPhones/iPod Touches and the iPad!

LoKast allows you to discover and share music, videos, photos, contacts, and web links with others nearby. Extending on the notion of ”Broadcast Networks”, LoKast turns devices into localized, high-speed content servers that nearby users can ”tune” into. Whether you are sharing your holiday vacation footage with your friends and family or a music band distributing exclusive hits to your fans, LoKast is the most dynamic way to engage with others nearby.

With LoKast, you don’t need to worry about 3G connectivity or whether there is a WiFi hotspot nearby!

LoKast is powered by NearVerse, which optimizes across WiFi, Bluetooth, and carrier networks to deliver a smooth, quick, and consistent experience, regardless of network connectivity. This also means that iPhones and iPod Touches can seamlessly share content anywhere at HIGH SPEEDS!

3. Facebook

Facebook for iPhone makes it easy to stay connected and share information with friends. Use your iPhone to start a conversation with Facebook Chat, check your friends' latest photos and status updates, look up a phone number, or upload your own mobile photos to Facebook while on the go. The latest version of Facebook for iPhone has some new features, like the ability to watch videos and make posts on event walls.

4. Twitterrific

Twitterrific is a fun application that lets you both read and publish posts or "tweets" to the Twitter community website. The application's user interface is clean, concise and designed to take up a minimum of real estate on your Mac's desktop.

Twitterrific's user interface is designed to let you view as much or as little information as you desire. The application shows a scrolling list of the latest tweets from either your friends or public feeds. The list can be shown in a collapsed or expanded mode. Scroll through all tweets quickly in either mode with the ↓/↑ keys.

Feature

• Clean, concise UI with small desktop footprint
• Supports multiple Twitter accounts
• Auto refreshing at user defined intervals
• Replies and direct messages are displayed inline
• Number of unread tweets shown in the Dock
• Delete tweets from Twitter quickly and easily
• Auto show/hide when new tweets arrive
• Control over window layering and priority
• Single click access to user profile pages
• Switch between friend and public tweets easily
• Keyboard shortcuts for list navigation and more
• Control Twitterrific with AppleScript
• Audio notification for new tweets
• Hotkey to show/hide tweets

[Ricky58]

Oh that's a great man! It is indeed a useful information for people like me who always use to fetch internet in search of some cool applications for Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. However, I would also like to share some of the other iPhone and iPod Touch applications that I found.

[Sean J]

IM+

IM+ will keep you connected all-in-one to Twitter, Skype Chat, Facebook, Google Talk, Yahoo, MSN/Live Messenger, AIM/iChat, ICQ, MySpace and Jabber.

No cost per message! Send photo, voice, video and IM for free and save on MMS and SMS!

Key Features

• NEW EMAIL PUSH NOTIFICATIONS: Get notified instantly when a new email arrives in your mailbox. Supports Hotmail, Yahoo, and GMail.
• SPEECH RECOGNITION (as in-app purchase): The very FIRST and the ONLY speech recognition service for instant messaging on iPhone! Easy as 1-2-3. Dictate messages instead of typing them in! Offered on a monthly basis. English only.
• SEND PHOTO / VOICE MSGS / VIDEO and IM for FREE: IM+ uses your existing data plan or Wi-Fi connection. Voice messages are sent as MP3 files and can be played back on any Mac, PC, or mobile.
• SKYPE CHAT: Chat with your Skype buddies! Incoming Skype call can be recorded and played back instantly as a voice message.
• TWITTER: View friends' timeline, favorites, direct messages and replies. Update your Twitter with voice, photo or geo-location messages. ReTweet, Geo Timeline, and Search!
• CUSTOM STATUS and GEO-LOCATION: Use your own status messages and let your friends easily find you on a map by setting geo-location as a dynamic status message.
• BUILT-IN BROWSER: Multi-task with a built-in browser! Surf the web and open links from conversations without leaving IM+.
• APPLE PUSH NOTIFICATIONS: Stay connected even after closing IM+! You'll be notified when you receive a new IM or when certain contact comes online (customizable) in all supported networks up to 7 days after closing the application! (Note: Due to technical reasons IM+ keeps Skype connected up to 2 hours only. Time allowed for Skype Push may be increased soon)
• ANIMATED EMOTICONS: IM+ is the only application in AppStore with cool looking animated emoticons! Emoticons can be turned on or off.
• EMOJI: Emoji smileys/emoticons on your iPhone and iPod Touch! No more spending money on a special app for that!
• CUSTOMIZABLE SOUNDS: Use different sounds for different events in IM+: incoming message, contact coming online, push alert, etc.

Truphone

Truphone keeps you in touch with the people that matter to you with FREE Wi-Fi & 3G calls, instant messaging, Twitter and great savings on international calls to mobiles and landlines anywhere in the world.

There are no contracts with Truphone. We'll even give you free call credit to get started!

FEATURES

• Make FREE Wi-Fi & 3G calls to Truphone, Skype and Google Talk users
• Search Truphone's directory to find and add your friends easily
• IM and multi-chat with Truphone, Facebook, Skype, AIM, GoogleTalk & MSN
• Always on and contactable with full iOS 4 multitasking support
• Send and receive SMS's, including group SMS's, to your TruFriends and phone contacts
• Get FREE voicemail with push notifications
• Make low cost calls to any local or international number
• Works anywhere, even when not in Wi-Fi

Skype

• Call Skype-to-Skype, wherever you are
• Call your Skype contacts wherever you may be – either on 3G or WiFi. It's completely free to call people on Skype over WiFi, and free on 3G* until the end of 2010.
• Great value international calls and text messages
• Call and text phones anywhere in the world directly from your phonebook, and save with Skype's great rates.
• Instant messages
• With Skype for iPhone, you can instant message one or many people on Skype at the same time, wherever, and whenever the mood strikes.

This version works on iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch and iPad. Skype requires iPhone OS version 3.0 or above.

Calling functionality is available on iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and 2nd generation iPod touch onwards. iPod touch requires a compatible headset with a microphone.

Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger for iPhone and iPod Touch is the best way to connect with the people that matter most and keep up with the things they are doing across the web. Use your iPhone to instant message your friends list, view and comment on your friends’ photos and status updates from Windows Live, Facebook, and MySpace, and at a glance, see what your Messenger friends are sharing from Flickr, YouTube, and many other social and photo sharing sites. Make sure to visit Welcome to Windows Live today and setup Windows Live to bring in your social networks. Messenger is simply the best way to connect with your closest friends.

• Chat: Instant message with your Windows Live Messenger and Y! Messenger contacts on the go so you’re always connected to the people that matter most. You can even receive IM notifications when your app is closed so you never miss a message.
• Social: Windows Live Messenger gives you one place to view the updates your Messenger friends are sharing from social networks like Facebook, Flickr, MySpace and more, helping you cut through the clutter on the go.
• Photos: Upload photos right from your phone to share your favorite moments with the people that matter most. Create albums, add captions, and let your friends and family comment on your photos.
• Hotmail: Access your Hotmail account without leaving the app to read, reply to, and compose emails. Get email notifications within the application so you know when you have new messages.

DeHood

DeHood is a social networking app that puts the neighborhood in the palm of your hand. It has a wealth of features that keeps neighbors connected and makes your neighborhood a better experience for everyone. Look at “Buzz” where you report news and shout your opinion and also find out what’s going on around you.

With “Places” check into venues, restaurants, work, church, parks or the library and connect with the people there. Check in, and be rewarded with prizes and coupons.

“Shop” is the first social network for shopping and it brings you the latest deals from your favorite brands. Search for local deals reported from your favorite stores. Play the game of reporting and verifying deals around you.

“People” makes it easy to stay in touch with your friends or meet locals in real time. Exchange messages with anyone on DeHood. “Change location” and find out what’s going on in other places.

Yahoo! Messenger

Friends are an instant away with Yahoo! Messenger app for the iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad. Yahoo! Messenger app allows you to IM friends and family right from your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad wherever you are.

• Connect with all your friends: Instant message with your Yahoo! Messenger & Windows Live Messenger contacts wherever you are.
• Show off and Stay in control: Show yourself as available or busy, go invisible, or show off your status and let your friends know what you’re up to.
• Share away: Share photos, emoticons and links, right from your device.
• Free SMS Text Messaging: You can send SMS text messages for free from Yahoo! Messenger.

Loopt Mix

Download Loopt Mix and chat for FREE and make new friends with interesting people around you. Everyone else is doing it.

• Free messaging with people around the world on Loopt Mix!
• Create your profile and upload as many photos as you want.
• Browse profiles of cool people near you or anywhere else.
• Search for the kind of people you want to see.
• Become a Loopt Mix Celebrity and view other Celebs.

Emoji

Emojis respond to:

• touches/drags across the screen
• double tapping
• gravity and movement of your device

Get emoticons on your device! Express yourself in new and creative ways! Over 460 icons to choose from: people, animals, food, places, silliness and many, many more!

You can use these icons: in text messages, emails, notes, web sites, or almost anywhere you can type text! Non iPhone/iPod users cannot see these icons. Only Apple devices can display the icons. All Emoji apps have the same icons, because the icons are already present on your device. The app simply enables the emoji keyboard that's normally hidden from you.

[Sean J]

Hellotxt

This easy-to-use iPhone/iPad app combines the power to update 50+ social websites and services (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, Tumblr, WordPress, Flickr, Blip.fm…and many more) with geo-location, a smart reading view (to see your friends’ last posts) and crazy fun enhancements like the ability to doodle on photos, add music, video…even draw a post freehand!

See places of interest (POIs) around you in real-time map view…then use a map snapshot to show where you are in your update! Manage multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts. Post to Facebook Pages separate from your personal profile! Schedule posts by network, and for a specific time and date! Stay in touch with all your contacts across all your social networks, and send all sorts of updates, from simple text -- to pics and videos.

The best part is it’s so easy to use, that if you just want a simple way to update Facebook and Twitter simultaneously, this app is also for you! Current networks include: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, WordPress, Google Buzz, LiveJournal, Blogger, Flickr, Hi5, Bebo, Delicious, FriendFeed, Friendster, Imeem, Plaxo, Blip.fm, Seesmic, Yammer, Posterous, Laconica, Identica, Ning, Tumblr, 12 Seconds, Tuenti, RTM, Hictu, Utterli, SocMedian, Presently, Mexicodario, Kwippy, Jaiku, Gozub, Feecle, Brightkite, Zousa, Skyrock, Numpa, Meemi, Koornk, Plurk, Blip.pl, you are, Shoutem, Khaces, Fazkut, CustomURL, Plerb, Jiwai, Frazr, Fafou, Buzzherd, Multiply, Jisko, Buboo.

WHY USE HELLOTXT?

• NO COST – It’s free!
• MAKE YOUR POSTS FUN – Hellotxt gives your posts humor. Give your friend a mustache! Draw on top of a map to highlight your location, or use a birthday cake icon to show where the party is!
• UPDATE DOZENS OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AT THE SAME TIME – Hellotxt supports over 50+ social networks and web services.
• MANAGE MULTIPLE TWITTER ACCOUNTS – Reading supports multiple Twitter account and the ability to easily flip from one to another.
• BROWSE FRIENDS’ UPDATES IN ONE FEED – Get all your news from the social web in one place!
• SCHEDULE TWEETS – Don’t want to say it now? Schedule it for later!
• ADD GEO-LOCATION DATA TO YOUR UPDATES – Show where you are by nearby place of interest (POI) or by sending a map view!
• DOODLE – Draw freehand in our composer tool. Control color and add fun clip art then send it out!
• AUGMENTED REALITY VIEW – See places of interest (POIs) pop out in real-time

Aardvark Mobile

Aardvark is Social Q&A: Get a live answer to any question from someone in your social network!

• Ask your question in plain English, like you would to a friend.
• Aardvark discovers someone who's online now and can give you an answer right away.
• Answers from people you trust: your friends (and their friends), classmates and coworkers.
• Connect to people in your network by answering their questions -- just tell Aardvark what topics you'd like to help friends with!

FEATURES

• Language engine analyzes your question to find key topics
• Automatically detects your location
• Get notified of new answers right away
• Seamlessly connect to Facebook
• Invite friends by email
• Smooth polished interface!

Meebo

Meebo is integrated, all-in-one instant messaging that connects you with your friends everywhere.

Reliability / Connectivity

• Push notifications even when the app is closed
• Stay connected as you move from Edge to 3G to WiFi
• Meebo's proven multi-network access protocols
• Automatically reconnect if you lose coverage so you don't miss a message

Access / Integration

• Searchable, synchronized chat history on your iPhone and meebo.com
• Get Meebo on the web, your desktop, or your iPhone
• Tap any links to open the built-in browser
• Advanced chat session management lets you go seamlessly back and forth between Meebo on the iPhone and meebo.com

Chat features

• Swipe to switch between multiple conversations
• Rotate for landscape mode and a wider keyboard.
• Message preview from the Chats List
• Full Meebo emoticon support
• Push notifications
• Searchable Chat History
• Sort chats by most recent or full view
• Support for all the major IM networks, and many more

Account features

• Buddylist search as you type
• View profile info, status messages, and buddy icons
• Add/Remove individual buddies
• Add/Remove network accounts
• Open and close buddy groups in your Buddy List
• Set custom status messages
• Sign on/off individual accounts
• Set presence to Available/Invisible/Away for individual accounts, or all at once

BeejiveIM

BeejiveIM. Instant messaging anywhere. Now with Push!

Stay connected to all your instant messaging buddies anywhere you go! BeejiveIM (pronounced \bē-hīv\ IM) keeps you in touch with your friends on AIM/MobileMe, MSN/Windows Live, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk, Facebook, MySpace, ICQ and Jabber all at the same time, all on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Beejive's reliable and efficient networking has been tested and proven on multiple platforms. Now it is available for the iPhone. Move from 3G, Edge, and wifi connections seamlessly. Stay connected after you close the application and be notified when you get a new message through push notifications. After being out of coverage BeejiveIM automatically reconnects and picks up where you left off.

BeejiveIM uses your phone's existing data plan or wifi connection, so you can save money by reducing your text messages.

Key Features

• BeejiveIM uses your existing data plan: no per-message charges.
• Reliable and efficient networking: be connected 24/7, and it's gentle on your battery.
• Be connected even after you close the application. Get notified instantly when you get a new message with Push Notifications.
• Works with multiple IM networks, multiple accounts per network: AIM/iChat, MSN, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk, Facebook IM, ICQ, Jabber, and MySpace IM.
• Send and receive files, including pictures and voice notes. View and forward received documents.
• Desktop-like instant messaging with all of your IM buddies from a single intuitive user interface.

Chatting Features

• Real-time chats: quick switch between multiple simultaneous chats.
• Group chats: chat with multiple buddies on AIM, Yahoo, GTalk, or MSN.
• Full Unicode support, chat in any language supported by your iPhone.
• Landscape option, type with a larger keyboard.
• Chat history: Email chat logs to save chat history.
• Hyperlink support, automatically parses links for web pages, YouTube videos, email addresses, and phone numbers.
• Emoticons support.
• SMS out, chat with your SMS buddies through AIM or Yahoo SMS out. SMS out is fully integrated with your iPhone/iPod Touch address book.

Account & Buddy Features

• Manage your buddy-list, including add/remove, nicknames, groups, block, approve/deny requests.
• Merge multiple IM buddies for the same contact under a single buddy list entry with meta contacts.
• Sort/group/search your buddy list.
• Control your own availability, set auto-away and custom status messages, be invisible, change privacy controls.
• Configurable alerts, customizable sound, vibrate settings.
• Buddy icon support, view your friends' icons, set your own.

Boxcar

Twitter, Facebook, Email, RSS, Atom and Growl push notifications. Do you use: Facebook, Twitter or Email? Want to know as soon as something happens? Boxcar is for you!

FACEBOOK: Boxcar sends you a push notification anytime you receive a notification on Facebook. For example, when someone comments on your status - we'll let you know! We'll automatically open the Facebook application for you as well.

TWITTER: Boxcar sends you push notifications anytime someone mentions you on Twitter, or sends you a DM. The best part is, it works with what you already love: Twittelator, TweetDeck, Tweetie, Tweetie 2, Twitterrific, Twitterfon (Lite and Pro), Twinkle, SimplyTweet, Twitterena+ (Lite and Pro), Birdfeed, Hahlo.com, TwitBird Pro, TwitBird Premium and TwitBird Free!

EMAIL: Boxcar provides you with a unique e-mail address that you forward your e-mail to. We take privacy very, very seriously and only store who it's from, and the subject. We then send you a push notification!

FEATURES

• Facebook push notifications. Opens your Facebook application automatically!
• Email push notifications.
• Push notifications for Twitter mentions and direct messages. NEW: Instant notifications for public @mentions.
• Twitter OAuth for authentication, so we never see your password.
• Choose from 11 different clients to open automatically for Twitter! Including: Tweetie 2, Tweetie, Twitterrific, Echofon Pro and Lite, Twittelator, Twinkle, SimplyTweet, Twitterena, Birdfeed, Hahlo, TweetDeck, TwitBird Pro, TwitBird Premium and TwitBird Free!