Zannel Launches Web-based IM for iPhone

A new IM service is attempting to tap into the mobile market. Zannel is a mobile instant messaging service, much like AIM, which allows people to have real-time conversations and share video and pictures. The service now has a mobile Web site that takes all of its features and makes them Web-based – of course, for none other than iPhone users.

“The success of the iPhone demonstrates that the next wave of mobile communication has arrived, and the ecosystem is ready for true mobile Web applications like ours,” said Braxton Woodham, CTO at Zannel. “We’re excited about moving beyond the simple list formats inherent to WAP and creating a mobile Web site that a device like the iPhone deserves.”

This is a step above what AOL Instant Messenger has done for mobile media, as the popular messaging service only has Web-based applications that employ the most basic of features for the iPhone.

Unlike its AIM competitor, Zannel’s iPhone mobile Web interface retains sophisticated design elements commonly found on the Web, such as persistent navigation and seamless transitions between sharing, viewing and discussing content. Supposedly, users won’t miss anything from Zannel when using the Web-based app.

For the iPhone, Zannel optimizes the video formats for Wi-Fi and EDGE connections. Beyond mobile phones, Zannel allows users to communicate through custom widgets that are available for MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites and blogs.

The service is at Zannel.com and requires no download – which is good, since the iPhone doesn’t allow random application downloads.