Comments for Instant Messaging Round-Up

Instant Messaging Round-Up

2007-10-24T18:49:39Z

There are more and more ways to get your instant messaging done, with a large number of new online and offline clients from third parties. With so many instant messaging options, it's hard to figure out which one to use. Below, we've listed a large number of online and offline instant messengers, as well the various protocols supported by each, so that you can more easily find the one that's right for you. There's really not all that much difference between each except in interface and supported protocols. The best option for you will likely be the one that supports the networks your friends connect to and has an interface that you feel comfortable using. If there are any we've missed, please mention them in the comments. (Note: we did not link to any official offline clients.)

]]> Online Clients

Name: Meebo
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber

Name: FlickIM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber

Name: Kool IM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Gadu-Gadu, Xfire

Name: eBuddy
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, MySpace

Name: ILoveIM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, webcams/video chat

Name: RadiusIM
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk

Name: Imo.im
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk

Name: Mabber
Supports: ~~Proprietary~~ Jabber-based (aimed at mobiles)

Name: IMUnitive
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, gim (proprietary)

Name: Snimmer
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber

Name: EasyMessenger
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, Jabber

Name: MessengerFX
Supports: MSN

Name: IMhaha
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, QQ

Name: Google Talk
Supports: GTalk, Jabber

Name: Yahoo! Web Messenger (web.im)
Supports: Yahoo!, MSN

Name: MSN Web Messenger
Supports: Yahoo!, MSN

Name: AIM Express
Supports: AIM

Name: ICQ2Go
Supports: ICQ

Name: JWChat - Jabber Web Chat
Supports: Jabber

Name: Trillian Astra (closed alpha)
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, MySpace, iChat

Offline Clients

Name: Trillian
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, IRC
Platforms: Windows

Name: Pidgin
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, QQ, MySpace, iChat, IRC, Lotus, Novell
Platforms: Windows, UNIX

Name: Adium
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, QQ, iChat, Lotus, Novell, LiveJournal
Platforms: Mac OS X

Name: AirTalker
Supports: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, MySpace, Friendster, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, blogging
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS X (via Adobe AIR), also has web version

Name: Miranda IM
Supports: AOL, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, IAX, Tlen, Netsend
Platforms: Windows

Comment from Michael Lambie on 2007-10-29

2007-10-29T21:40:50Z

Love me some Pidgin. if they could add the airtalker services they'd dominate!

Comment from TechMalaya on 2007-10-29

2007-10-29T11:24:48Z

awesome list there. meebo is still my favorite online instant messenger.

Comment from Charlie on 2007-10-26

2007-10-27T06:13:10Z

This is all a bit of a mess. I should be able to talk to anyone on any service from any service - Skype included.

Comment from Soha El-Borno on 2007-10-25

2007-10-25T20:15:13Z

Great summary! Here's another good resource about using MeeboMe

How to use MeeboMe to engage your members
http://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/archive/2007/07/18/meebome-a-beginner-s-guide-to-embed-a-chat-room-into-your-website.aspx

Comment from Kevin Fox on 2007-10-25

2007-10-25T18:24:34Z

I would also mention Pibb as an OpenID enabled alternative to all of the listed apps. Pibb brings together the familiarity of forums, and convenience of instant messaging in one browser window. All messages are delivered in real time, then archived automatically for later search/viewing.

You can start a private (IM type) conversation with me by clicking on this link:
https://pibb.com/me/kfox.myopenid.com

Also, while competition, Tangler (http://tangler.com) is doing cool things in this space as well...

Comment from Harshal Vaidya on 2007-10-25

2007-10-25T18:22:03Z

RadiousIM worked for me perfect. Meebo raps out when signing on and Flick IM didnt even work !! I think its a scam !

Comment from michael l on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T23:57:23Z

mundu.com (gtalk, aol, yahoo, msn)

They have a great iPhone web app.

iphone.mundu.com

Comment from Phil Wolff on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T22:25:10Z

Kawila, Skype-to-Skype communications (IM, voice, video) are encrypted and Skype hasn't shared the encryption engine.

Comment from Kawika Holbrook on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T21:59:17Z

Anyone know why the Skype protocol can't be used (or hacked) with another client? Personally, I'd love to see iChat support all the services. Right now, I'd settle for Adium if I didn't have to launch Skype as well.

Comment from Joshua Jabin on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T20:56:03Z

That looks like a great list. Thanks for rounding them all up for us.

Comment from Katie on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T20:15:25Z

How about Velvet Puffin?

http://www.velvetpuffin.com

It's pretty nifty, as well.

Comment from Linus on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T20:07:03Z

Thank you.

Comment from Josh Catone on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T19:53:26Z

@John: Touche. :D

Comment from john on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T19:50:05Z

This is a nice summary. It, however, needs to be more careful in its classification of the clients. I think the author meant browser-based IM clients vs. desktop-based IM clients, not online vs. offline.

Offline IM is meaningless unless you consider faxing or fedex overnight IM. :)

I think this summary makes it clear that "device choice" in terms of choice of IM client is pretty much moot now. It seems that the more important choice is the network (Yahoo, Gtalk, MSN, AOL, etc) and the number of users on each. With Google openly proclaiming that they will federate with other Jabber networks and with Yahoo and MSN supporting federation , the network choice will hopefully soon become moot as well. IM becomes truly useful and dominant when the IM networks interconnect like the PSTN. There is absolutely no reason that I should need to know which IM network provides IM service to my buddies. Your buddy_id should be like a telephone number.

Comment from Josh Catone on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T19:43:38Z

@Dominik: Thanks! I've updated the post. :)

@Linus: I've added it. Thanks.

Comment from Linus on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T19:42:04Z

And Miranda (www.miranda-im.org) is not represented by a link here. To bad :-/

Comment from Dominik on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T19:33:41Z

Mabber is actually not proprietary but Jabber with working transports for Yahoo, MSN, AIM and ICQ. Even though it is not advertised on the page it can easily be used with any jabber client.

Comment from Mukund Mohan on 2007-10-24

2007-10-24T19:09:12Z

While you're at it, why not round up IM clients on phones (iPhone, Blackberry). Only trouble is the other vector that comes into play is which carrier they support. Thanks. Good work Josh.