Is there an app that i am not seeing that works for the IM/chat feature you can do in gmails desktop version?
Right, but you have to use Google+ right? Which I do not use and will not use. I just want the few people I use that google talk feature with in my email window to be able to reach me on the road, and vice versa, but it seems there's not really a direct app for that.
No. With the new update Google+ and the hangouts and chat are 2 totally different apps. Go to the App Store and download Hangouts. It does exactly what you described you wanted. I've been using it already.
I did, it's requiring me to set up a Google+ profile, which I will not do. So I am deleting it.
Worked for me. I disabled Google+ after I signed in
I get to the screen that says "Enable your Circles" and it will not go past it unless I click Enable.
I just did it and then went back in and killed Google+ online again. Hopefully that doesn't happen if I use this app again.
I hope it stays that way. Did it force you to put in your phone number? I got it to go around that, thankfully.