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Buying Guide: Our Favorite IM Tools
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Though it's recently taken the backseat to the social networking microblogging phenomenon, Twitter, instant messaging is still very much alive and kicking. New versions of some of the biggest names in IM are a testament to some people's need to communicate in more than 140 characters at a time.
The biggest fish in the IM world, AOL Instant Messenger (more familiarly known as AIM), is undergoing a major modernization with version 7, which is now in late beta. And perhaps the hottest entrant of late in the IM world, Digsby, which unites IM with the likes of Twitter, Facebook, and more, made news recently for a breach of software etiquette: It turned out that the software was by default set to take advantage of users' processing power for financial gain.
Digbsy, however, isn't the only hot new IM client that incorporates social networking updates. Trillian Astra, the latest incarnation of the first popular multiservice IM client, which has been in development for the last four years, has finally gone final as of mid-August. It's not only a client, but a service, complete with voice, video, and Web-based chat. It has tabbed chat windows and multiuser support, and over 200 new features.
The single-service clients haven't stood still either. In addition to AIM 7, Yahoo has come out with the pretty impressive version 9 of Yahoo Messenger, which also can display your Facebook and Twitter updates. Both AIM and Yahoo can add each other's contacts, but you won't get all the features you would with the standalone clients, like voice and video chat. These big IM apps also offer goodies like shared photo viewing, online gaming, and Web music radio stations. Meanwhile, our Editors' Choice Windows Live Messenger just gets better and better, with slick, customizable design and cool things like video winks.
AIM 7 (Beta 2)
Free
Judging from this beta release, Version 7 is a definite improvement over previous versions of the AIM instant messaging client, with more subtle ad placement and better integration with social networks like Facebook and Twitter. But it still trails alternatives like Digsby and Windows Live Messenger in terms of depth of functionality.
Digsby
Free
Digsby would be the multiservice instant messaging client to beat, had it not resorted to somewhat deceptive ways of making money. Its adroit incorporation of Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter feeds with all major IM systems, and a skinnable, versatile interface nevertheless make it very appealing.
Meebo
Free
Meebo lets you conduct chats with multiple IM clients, without the headache of windows and downloads.
Trillian Astra
Free; Pro version $25
This far-reaching update to the favorite multiservice instant messaging client of yesteryear bundles a ton to like—there are over 250 new features. Other IM apps may surpass Trillian Astra in certain areas, but no other service offers Trillian's breadth of functionality.
Windows Live Messenger
Free
Microsoft's instant-messaging client is more feature-rich and more customizable than its main competitors, Yahoo Messenger and AIM, and has a better interface. MSN Messenger gives you access to the world's largest messaging base, and it now adds Web and Facebook clients.
Yahoo! Messenger 9.0
Free
Yahoo Messenger 9.0 has an excellent design and a deep feature set with multilanguage IM translation capabilities and active, full-featured chat rooms that set it apart. But it boasts fewer users than AIM or MSN/Windows Live.