ICQ, the classic Instant Messaging service, has launched its newest version, ICQ 5.1. which includes all of the essential communication features such as messaging with the ability to save your chat history, file transfer, sending SMS messages (in selected countries), Voice & Video chats, and an extensive directory search for meeting new people. It also provides the ability to add and communicate with AOL and AIM users. In addition, ICQ has recently introduced ICQ Phone, a new, low-rate way to make PC to Phone calls. ICQ Phone joins the multimedia feature set that includes ICQ Push-to-Talk, the "walkie-talkie " like service.

ICQ also includes Xtraz which allow you to send personalized greeting cards, apply custom icons to your buddies, play online games, and customize your shortcuts panel for one-click access to all your favorite features. The ICQ Xtraz platform enables ICQ to present users with a selection of new services as they are created, without the need for you to download a new client. ICQ Xtraz also supports the creation of new ICQ features that can be built separately from the core ICQ client and then delivered and automatically updated over time. The new interface is clean and intuitive, so you can start chatting quickly and easily.

 

 

 

 

Yahoo Messenger is a free service that allows you to see when friends come online and to send them instant messages. It also can alert you to new e-mail in your Yahoo Mail or Yahoo Personals accounts, or when you have upcoming events recorded in your Yahoo Calendar. Yahoo Messenger offers firewall support, a standby mode that minimizes the program until an Internet connection is made, the ability to save and print your conversations, and a tabbed interface that provides quick access to your favorite stocks, news, and sports scores. Other features include the ability to create a chat room automatically, stock price alerts, the ability to send messages to friends (even if they're not online when you are), a Quick Compact mode that hides the Messenger tools to maximize your viewing area, Messenger Themes, and voice chat, which allows you to talk for free to anybody else on the Internet. It also includes Launchcast Radio, Yahoo Games, and Yahoo Audibles. Using a Webcam, you can see who you're chatting with or view the Webcam of any Yahoo member who has granted you access.

 

 

 

Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC. It provides capabilities not possible with original network clients, while supporting standard features such as audio chat, file transfers, group chats, chat rooms, buddy icons, multiple simultaneous connections to the same network, server-side contact importing, typing notification, direct connection (AIM), proxy support, encrypted messaging (AIM/ICQ), SMS support, and privacy settings.

Without stealing your home page and with no other included software, pop-ups, or spyware, Trillian provides unique functionality such as contact message history, a powerful skinning language, tabbed messaging, global status changes (set all networks away at once), Instant Lookup (automatic Wikipedia integration), contact alerts, an advanced automation system to trigger events based on anything happening in the client, docking, hundreds of emoticons, emotisounds, shell extensions for file transfers, and systray notifications.

 

 

 

IMsecure is free for individual use. It keeps IM conversations private and protects vulnerable IM connections.

Works with the IM you already use—AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, ICQ, and even universal clients like Trillian. Once IMsecure  is installed, it protects your IM silently, without interaction

Guards your PC by blocking dangerous inbound and outbound IM traffic, including: invalid messages, buffer overflow attacks, and more. Defends your computer and your files from hackers, thieves, vandals, and predators.

Saves time by blocking unwanted messages from strangers, and protects you from dangerous and inappropriate content.