Top 10 Web-Based Instant Messengers

22 Nov, 2006, 3:30 pm IST | Aalaap Ghag

No more downloading messenger software - just login from your web browser and chat away.

Top 10 Web-Based Instant Messengers


ILoveIM
ILoveIM is half way between eBuddy and Meebo. It uses a bit of new web techniques and AJAX, using just one browser window for the contact list as well as conversation windows which are DIV-based and floating (i.e. you can move them around the page), but it only does one messenger service at one go. You’ll have to open multiple browser windows or tabs and login to each service separately. Moreover, it doesn’t look as pretty as Meebo.

ILoveIM supports MSN/Windows Live Messenger in classic as well as the new form, AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger. Once again, no Google Talk, Jabber or ICQ.

Kool IM
Kool IM comes right after Meebo in terms of functionality, but it’s the most unpopular of the lot, and there’s a few reasons why. Like Meebo, it let’s you login to all the popular messenger services – MSN/Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk—at the same time. It does, however, pop out the actual contact list window, and each conversation gets its own window, but this may be convenient to those who are used to conventional instant messengers that each take up a task bar item, but not to those who prefer to tuck away all their conversations in one window for easy dismissal. It looks quite nice, but beyond that, it’s a very basic messenger. It doesn’t support smileys!

Messages Sur Le Net 2 Go
This relatively unknown service only does MSN/Windows Live Messenger, and that too, via a Java applet. This one is also basic, supporting no smileys or colors in the conversation window or even the contact list window, which is devoid of any icons. MSN2Go claims to have HTTP proxy support, which is nice, but this is only important because it’s a Java application. The other services work within the browser, so they automatically take your HTTP proxy. But since it’s so unpopular, you might just be able to get this one working if your office sysadmin has blocked everything else.

Tags: Internet , Web-based , MSN Messenger , Windows Live Messenger , Yahoo! Messenger , Google Talk , ICQ , AOL Instant Messenger , Jabber

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