Text messaging is great but sometimes you get a message out of context or just want an old fashioned instant messaging interface. That is where threaded text messaging comes in. Read the full article to see what I found.
What was wanted:
Threaded text messaging that used the existing message database and could be uninstalled without losing messages. Including contacts photos is also a big plus. The application needs to be super easy and intuitive to use. It also needs to work on a Smartphone/Windows Mobile Standard like the Shadow.
What Freewares exist:
I looked around a bit and didn’t find anything that met the criteria. There are a few free promising applications (TxtMan, and IMSMS) but they were either buggy, didn’t work, or used a separate database.
What Worked:
I tried out Extreme Text and have been very satisfied with the results. Not only does it work on the Shadow it also uses the existing text database. Meaning if you ever do choose to uninstall you won’t lose your text messages. Additionally, if you use the standard home screen of Windows Mobile then the text notification will take you to Extreme Text.
A bonus is that it also supports your photo contacts. So in the thread view you can see images of who you are talking to, making navigation a breeze.
Extreme Text also has customisable Quick Text. So if you are in a rush you can send a prefabbed reply or message saving your precious thumbs from strain 
For those longer text messages there is a full view as well. So you can read the whole message.
Conclusion:
Overall I have been very satisfied with Extreme Text from Birdsoft. It comes in real handy on those longer texting sessions. It also makes going through the history of a conversation that much easier. If you are someone that gets text after text from different people then this is for you. A great thing about threaded text messaging is it keeps you from sending the wrong reply to the wrong person.
I give it 4.5 Shadows! (I’ll give it 5 when it launches from the Neo Homescreen )
You can download a trial or buy it from the AllShadow.com store for $14.95 . Remember our discount of 20% is still good until Feb 15th, 2008 so right now it costs less than $12. Go ahead and give it a try.
If anyone figures out the registry hack to launch it from the NEO screen please let the rest of us know!
February 9th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
i tried it, but it seemed really slow when sending and recieving texts, not just the program but the whole phone. did you experience this?
February 10th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
How does the program affect MMS? I’ve tried a few programs (not on the Shadow, mind you. I used them on the Wing), and they totally interfered with my MMS.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:45 am
minh, no I didn’t experience that.
Mike, I will find out and get back to you. I don’t receive that many so it skipped my mind. I’ll let you know soon.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I’ve been using it for a while, it doesn’t impede MMS at all, but it won’t actually show the messages, you have to open the windows mobile SMS system to see them. Once you do open the windows SMS though, it assumes you don’t want to use it anymore, and makes the home screen launch straight into the windows one until you restart the phone.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
i have their new version (1.02 i believe?) on my phone right now and its working great. the speed issue was fixed, as noted in their ‘fixes log’
March 24th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Extreme Text can be mapped to the top side key (the voice command button) or you can put the program on speed dial.
which makes it quick to open up.
However the program is missing Character Count, so you never know if you are at the 160 character limit.
May 14th, 2008 at 12:45 am
[...] available in the Programs list under the Start menu once you have it installed. Adding this to Extreme Text and you are practically in text message heaven. Of course it’s free and available for [...]
May 29th, 2008 at 6:31 am
until this thing gets character count and fixes the capitalization bug i wont pay for it. other than that its pretty sweet. i dont know why the shadow doesnt have something like this as an option.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I downloaded the free trial version and was not all the impressed and after removing it i continue to get error messages saying “can’t find ‘eXtremetext’ (or one of its components)” whenever I want to open up my text messages. How do I get rid of this?
June 18th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
im having the same problem as mike. i tried to delete the program and it have me that error message whenever i try to select the sms icon. what do i do?