Fring is one of my all time favorite apps on the iPod Touch, and it is only getting better with time. To just give you a short overview of what Fring is, if you do not already know, it is a social aggregator for multiple platforms. Fring supports iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Java, and Linux. Fring allows you to interact with friends on all your favorite social networks including Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo! and AIM. They have also recently included Last.fm and Facebook (chat is still missing, I am not getting rid of my Nimbuzz so fast) and enabled you to receive alerts of new Gmail as well as fully customize your Fring using their add-ons.

They recently announced a new add-on for their Symbian and Windows Mobile app that offers a much better Twitter experience within the app. Using the add on you can see your replies and perform a Twitter search from within Fring. They also added a new feature to the iPhone version, which is called Always On. This feature seems to be a very innovative way of solving the famous no background apps problem on the iPhone.

Always On basically displays you as online to all your buddies, and when they IM you, you receive an email notification that you are being contacted so you know to log in to Fring. Not sure if this is really going to quench my thirst for constant connectivity, after all this kinda takes away the I from IM (as in this is not instant), but whether you like the concept or not, it is better than the alternative.

So there are some reasons I love Fring, but if you watch their new video of the Twitter add-on (you can also look at the screen shot above), you will understand why I REALLY love Fring. In all seriousness, Fring has a Twitter account, by which they receive and respond to user feedback. Whoever is behind that account has responded to all my queries in a timely manner, and has always answered my questions nicely and professionally. They have marketed themselves as a “cool” company with a “fresh” product, and they did that with no traditional advertising, another very impressive accomplishment.

Fring has a lot going for them right now, it is no surprise they are winning awards left and right. However, like many of the huge companies nowadays, Fring is eventually going to have to face the inevitable truth that “Money makes the world go round”. They are going to have to monetize somehow, but meanwhile, they are in good company with other successful services like Facebook and Twitter who seem to have no business plan. So to Fring I say, “Take your time, and keep doing what you are doing”.