Specifically, I'd like to get this information (in order of preference):
- Number of unread PMs
This can be used to embed a PM counter, or notification of new messages, into other services and websites.
- Ability to send a PM from the account (even if it's restricted to Pro users only)
This can be used to verify someone's identity, and to prove that they own an account. For example, if I wanted to link an external forum account to someone's Wikidot account, a PM could be sent from my account to theirs.
The PM would contain a link that they need to click on to verify their identity, proving that they own the associated Wikidot account (similar to e-mail verification that Wikidot uses for new accounts).
Doing things this way means that I would only need my own API account, and not the user's, in order to verify their identity.
It would also provide another method of sending out PM newsletters - which is currently only possible via the site manager.
- Information about the PMs themselves (i.e. title, sender, date — content is not required/necessary)
Expanding on the count of new messages… I could also show information about those messages, such as the title of the user's most recent message and who sent it to them.
Alternatives
This is a different wish, but could at least lead to being able to get a count of PMs without using the API.