In my opinion the way iMessage works natively on an iphone/pad is awesome[1]. You don't ever have to think about it. No separate apps, just one place for communication.
I wish there could be some commonly agreed standard that would include all of the smartphone OS and be implemented similarly.
[1] except when I forget to check 3g before sending a photo and get charged for an MMS :(
There are such standards, they're called SMS and MMS, it's just unfortunate that some greedy bastards are charging through the nose for them, not unlike printer ink.
Even if SMS/MMS were free, the way it operates targets a single device that must have cell service: it is highly convenient to be able to have someone send me a message and have it arrive both on my phone and on my laptop, and have it arrive at my phone even if I am on a plane with a WiFi connection and have no cellular service.
I wish there could be some commonly agreed standard that would include all of the smartphone OS and be implemented similarly.
[1] except when I forget to check 3g before sending a photo and get charged for an MMS :(