Looking for the latest instant messaging
software? Look no further! We've got'em all lined up and ready
to download. All of these programs are FREE unless noted
otherwise.
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AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
| Description: |
AOL Instant
Messenger is the current king of the IM hill, with more
users than any other messenger. It's free to download,
even if you don't use AOL for your Internet service. Not
a lot of bells-and-whistles, but a pretty decent instant
messenger. |
Download: |
Windows 5.9,
Mac
4.7 for OS ,
Linux
1.5,
Windows
CE 2.0,
Palm
3.1,
PDA's,
AIM
Express |
| Resources: |
Visit the BigBlueBall
AIM Center for more info, add-ons and tools for
customizing AIM.
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MSN
Messenger / Windows Messenger
| Description: |
Microsoft's instant
messenger comes in two flavors: MSN Messenger is available for
Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000 and Macs; Windows Messenger is
available only for Windows XP. MSN Messenger has seen the
biggest gain in market share of any instant messenger; over 90%
in the past year alone. In my opinion, it has the cleanest, friendliest
user interface. Very easy on the eyes. Note that Messenger no
longer runs on Windows 95. |
| Download: |
MSN
Messenger for Windows, Mac, PocketPC, Microsoft TV or MSN
Companion |
| Resources: |
The BigBlueBall MSN Messenger Center.
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Yahoo! Messenger
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ICQ (I Seek You)
| Description: |
One of the biggest
and most popular, ICQ (pronounced "I
Seek You") is also one of the most
full-featured. That is both it's
strength and it's weakness. ICQ is now
owned by AOL (which owns AIM, also).
As a result, ads have begun to creep
into the user interface. |
| Download: |
http://www.icq.com/products |
| Resources: |
http://www.icq.com
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Trillian
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Jabber
| Description: |
Jabber is a grassroots IM network and an open standard for IM
approved by the IETF. It is often called "the Linux of instant
messaging" and provides an open alternative to AOL, ICQ, MSN,
Yahoo, and other corporate IM systems.
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| Download: |
This is
a complete list, including suggested clients for Windows,
Mac, and Linux. |
| Resources: |
www.Jabber.org - Website of
the Jabber Software Foundation, including links to everything
about Jabber.
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Imici
| Description: |
One of the newer IM
programs that like Odigo, promises
interoperability (a fancy way of
saying you can IM your friends on AIM
and other IM platforms). Personally, I
think Imici is
not-quite-ready-for-primetime, but
your opinion is the one that matters.
11/21 update: Imici's makers appear to be positioning it as a
corporate IM solution. |
| Download: |
http://users.imici.com/ignup.php |
| Resources: |
http://www.imici.com
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Odigo
| Description: |
What do you get when
you take the best features of ICQ and wrap them into a beautiful
new package? Add a dash of occasional instability and you might
have Odigo. Also works with MSN, Yahoo, AIM and ICQ. |
| Download: |
Odigo 4.0 |
| Resources: |
Check the BigBlueBall
Odigo
Center.
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Are we still missing something? What are you waiting
for?
Let us know!
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