I like to keep my contacts organized and that’s one reason why i prefer using different im services for different tasks. i tend to use Gmail or Google Talk for my professional contacts while I use MSN for my friends. This often requires me to either have both Google Talk and MSN live clients open or I use a multi-protocol IM client like pidgin. For some time pidgin was the only such software I knew about but digging a little more, you find that options are aplenty.
Pidgin is one of the best multi protocol IM cleint available right now. It has been serving the communication needs of web users for some time now which apparently also means that some of the deviant users have tried to customize it as well. Pidgin offers one of the best customization options and you can change its look and icons to your desire. It works with almost every email account you own like AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, MSN, MySpaceIM, QQ, SILC, SIMPLE, Sametime, XMPP, Yahoo! and Zephyr across all the Windows/ Linux and UNIX Operating Systems.
Digsby is the new kid on the block but has taken the world by storm because it not just mult-platform IM client but also a social networking tool. Digsby has exploited certain areas which were not considered useful or worthy by other similar applications. It minimizes the need to open the email account in browser as you can send emails right from the Digsby. It also supports Twitter and Facebook which are not natively supported by Pidgin. You can however use certain plugins to enable both the services on Pidgin but everyone likes complete product. It currently has Windows version but Mac and Linux versions are expected to be available soon.
Adium is to Mac what Pidgin is to Linux as it is the best multi-protocol available to Mac users right now just like Linux users who have to satisfy themselves with Pidgin. Adium supports AOL IM, Jabber, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, MySpace IM, Gadu Gadu, Bonjour, Novell Groupwise, QQ, Lotus Sametime IM services.
Instantbird would be an appropriate IM client for someone like me who tends to use Google Talk, Yahoo, MSN and AIM while support is available for Gadu Gadu, IRC, QQ, ICQ and XMPP as well. It is cross platform which would delight some and add-ons can be installed to enhance its functionaility. The Add-ons section is not ready yet but the developer site does proclaim that making addons for Instantbird is easy.
Instan-t desktop lets you communicate with MASN, AOL, ICQ, Yahoo, Google Talk and Instan-t IM networks. It’s not just a desktop cleint as a web version of Instan-t is also available which you’d like to use if you prefer online multi-protocol IM clients.
Miranda IM is an old school multi-protocol instant messenger client for Microsoft Windows which can support communication across AIM, Jabber, ICQ, IRC, MSN, Yahoo, Gadu-Gadu and more. There is a decent repositor of add-ons for Miranda IM which can be accessed on its homepage.
If you tend to use online IM networks then you would like to try the following web based multi-protocol IM messengers.
ebuddy was the first web based IM but it used to support Windows MSN alone which had created a huge recess. ebuddy has a clean interface and it supports Google Talk, Yahoo! IM, MSN, AIMand MySpace chat. The Facebook chat is also about to launch on ebuddy which would hopefully give it an ege over other such online third party clients.
Meebo exploited the huge opportunity that ebuddy had left bu just focussing on MSN. Meebo moved forward fast as it started with bang with support for IM networks like Yahoo!, Google Talk, MSN and AIM. Further it expanded its support for MySpace and Flixster etc.
Imo is another web based third party IM client which supports Yahoo, MSN, Google Talk, Myspace and also Skype. It also has a standalone application for windows which you can install on your PC.
Imhaha has one ace and that is its support for QQ which is hugelu popular in China. Apart from QQ it supports MSN, Yahoo and AIM. Since it doesn’t support Google Talk so I obviously wont be able to use it much.
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Tags: IM
Do any of these support skype and video chat?
I need an all in one client that supports latest AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Google and SKype.
Try Trillian; the basic client is free with expansive protocol support but you can get add-ons for other protocols as well as extra features. The developers are currently working on the next major version which will hopefully launch in the next few months.
I also need an Multi Protocol IM to support Skype. This blog states that IMO does. Will download to test it out.
Their sites says it supports Yahoo, MSN, Google Talk, Myspace, AIM, Skype and recently Facebook.
IMO setup was pretty quite but I have been trying to log in my MSN and Yahoo accouts for about 15mins now. It logged in Skype w/o a problem though.
I’ll just stay with Digsby and login Skype manually.