iOS developer @Gojohnnyboi discovered some code in iOS 5.0.1 that could indicate iChat — Apple’s Mac OS X instant messenger client — functionality may be coming to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch down the road.

Although the new iMessage feature in iOS 5 doesn’t hook into the same chat services mentioned in the code, it would make a lot of sense for Apple to ultimately streamline the iChat, FaceTime, and iMessage into a single service across Apple devices.

How soon you’ll actually see this on your iPhone or iPad isn’t exactly clear, but this at least suggests Apple has been experimenting with this on the iOS platform.