AOL – AIM
Short for AOL Instant Messenger, AIM is the most popular IM
program in existence right now. The
reason? How about the fact that AOL has
20 million subscribers, and for them, it’s the only way to access instant
messaging? To sweeten the deal, AOL
recently allowed non-AOL subscribers to download the program to talk with AOL
users. The result has been a widespread
acceptance of AIM as the leading IM provider in America. It sports a unique array of features and
great integration with AOL services (if you’re a subscriber). Non-subscribers can still enjoy most of the
functionality including online profiles that have evolved into something
similar to blogs.
MSN .NET Messenger
In a distant second place, Microsoft’s MSN Messenger is integrated
with its .NET service, meaning that hotmail.com users (and there’s lots of
them!) and MSN subscribers have easy access to their services. With their latest release version 6.2, many
of Messenger’s worst problems have been eradicated. I’ve found Messenger 6.2 to be a great IM program and though many
scoff at using a Microsoft product, I think it’s the lesser of two evils as I’d
rather not be associated with AOL-Time Warner!
If you have a hotmail account, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t
get this program: that’s because you already have a user account waiting to be
activated!
Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo!’s IM program has been gaining popularity since it is
something of an underdog against giants like AOL and Microsoft. If you look squarely at the specs, there are
no weak points in Yahoo! Messenger’s offerings. In fact, it’s popular because it offers both voice and webcam
chats as a built-in feature.
Mirabilis ICQ
Despite losing most of its market share over the years to
its three main competitors, ICQ remains the longest standing instant messaging
program in existence. Now in its 8th
year of development, ICQ has all of the features you’ve come to expect in an IM
program. You might have trouble finding
people to talk to though, as I’ve noticed a slow migration away from ICQ’s
network.
Trillian – Jack of All Trades!
There is a curious program called Trillian, that promises to
solve all of your multi-network problems.
Let’s say you know some people on AIM, MSN, and Yahoo Messenger. It’s a major hassle to open up all three
services and handle so many different types of conversation. Instead, you could download Trillian (for
free), which sports access to all major IM networks. You’ll need accounts for each network, of course, but once you’ve
created them you won’t have to open up the individual programs ever again. Though I haven’t used it before, I’ve seen
people using it. Trillian offers a
generic chat experience minus many of the specialized network features of each
network. Of course, that’s the price to
pay for having access to so many people in one convenient program!
Instant Messaging, Instantaneous Culture
Throughout my years I have seen all of the major Internet
trends today emerge slowly from the murky depths. While it’s a great way to waste time, it is essentially just a
waste of time. Don’t expect any
profound conversations. Expect to be
drawn into many short and pointless conversations with friends as you all try
to pass some time. If you have to choose
between sleep and IM, always choose sleep.
IM has spawned an entirely different kind of etiquette too. You can expect to misinterpret common
phrases and get into stupid arguments as a result. ’Hiding’ from people is also a trend that has emerged. Most programs allow you to selectively
choose who can see your online presence.
Many personal feuds find their way onto IM services, and this is just a
reflection of it.
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