Multi Protocol Instant Messaging Clients

Multi Protocol Instant Messaging Clients Today we digg into All-In-One Messengers (aka multi-protocol Instant Messaging clients), these handy apps merge several messenger platforms (AIM, Yahoo, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber…) into one messenger.

We got it all covered: web-based ones (to access from work or school), desktop downloadables and for mobile devices.

Online Instant Messengers

Meebo (AIM, Yahoo, MSN, GoogleTalk, ICQ, Jabber) – Lets you access multiple IM accounts simultaneously. Registration isn’t required, however if you sign-up (free) you will be able to:

sign into all of your IM screen names using a single meebo login
save your preferences (i.e. sounds and appearances)
save your conversations in meebo chat logs

KoolIM (AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber) – Quite similar to Meebo. You can login to several IM accounts at once either by entering login details for each of them, or use a single Koolim ID (sign-up required).

eBuddy (MSN, Yahoo, AIM) – Unlike the above two, with eBuddy you can to login to only one IM application at a time.

ILoveIM (MSN, Google Talk, AOL, Yahoo) – Same thing here, only one IM application at a time.

Multi Protocol Instant Messengers for Desktops

Trillian [Windows] – AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo and IRC

Miranda IM [Windows] – AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, IRC, Gadu-Gadu, IAX, Netsend, Tlen ….

Gaim [Linux, BSD, Mac, Windows] – AIM, ICQ , MSN, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, Novell GroupWise, Lotus Sametime, Zephyr

Adium [Mac] – AIM, ICQ , MSN, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber, Novell GroupWise, Lotus, Bonjour, QQ, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk

Kopete [Linux] – AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, IRC, Gadu-Gadu and Novell GroupWise

Qnext [Windows, Mac, Linux] – ICQ, MSN, Yahoo and AIM

Instan-t Express [Windows] – MSN, AOL, ICQ, and Yahoo

Multi Protocol Instant Messaging Cleints for Mobile Phones

JimmyIM – Brings MSN Messenger, GoogleTalk / Jabber, Yahoo and ICQ to your mobile phone.

Yiego – Chat with your contacts on GoogleTalk, MSN Messenger, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ and Jabber.

Fring – Chat and Talk with Skype, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, ICQ, and Twitter contacts from your mobile for FREE.

eBuddy (MSN, Yahoo, AIM) – accessible online.

Mabber (AIM, ICQ, MSN,Yahoo!,Jabber) – requires download

Eqo (AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Jabber, Google Talk, Skype) – requires download

Nimbuzz (MSN, Life Messenger, Google Talk) – requires download

Tagged: instant messaging • office worker • productivity

Kaly

A father of two, neo geek, tech-obsessed male who runs the MakeUseOf Directory. He is also the co-founder of MakeUseOf and been here since makeuseof went live.

Deyan

Don’t forget Miranda IM – perhaps the best IM out there..
http://makeuseof.com Aibek

Thanks for the tip, it’s on the list.
http://shreela.blogspot.com Sherri

I quit using Trillian because it was getting bloated (I was using an older pc with a small HD, and dialup). I found that Miranda worked better on that old setup, and I’ve continued using it after finally stepping into this century. The NT/XP version is 1.1mb.

I remember having to copy the Jabber file, rename it to GTalk, then something else probably, but now my Miranda has Jabber and GTalk both. Of course it has Aim, ICQ, Yahoo, MSM, and IRC.

http://www.miranda-im.org/

Manish

Sherri

Is there any kinda one messenger that support Yahoo, MSN and GTalk along with webcam feature.

Do let me know

http://shreela.blogspot.com Sherri

HA, I notice it’s included in the list after submitting my former comment, Jinx!
heavylight

Anybody else getting a warning about a trojan when attempting to instal Universal Messenger Plus?
(NOD32 reports it as TrojanDownloader.1stBar.NAU.)
http://ramblings.loneroad.info AC

What about GAIM [gaim.sf.net]. It supports MSN, Yahoo, AIM, Gtalk [via jabber], IRC and ICQ
http://makeuseof.com Kaly

heavylight@

Thanks for alert. Neither my firewall nor Antivirus detected it. I checked it with some other tools and seems you’re right
It is off the list now.
tasm

gaim?!? come on what about gaim!?!
http://turse.org Josh

Don’t forget about Jabber & transports. If you have a Jabber host that provides support for the various transports, then all you have to is enter the login information for each service, and use an appropriate Jabber client (iChat, Adium, Trillian).
http://makeuseof.com Aibek

Yeah Kaly, WTF? where is Gaim
btw Josh, good point.
ron

good
webmink

For the Mac, the only IM worth using is Adium, at adiumx.com
anonymous

Great post,

KoolIM allows you to access Instant Messenger at work or school. Check out the KoolIM Web Messenger

You can access MSN web Messenger and Web MSN

You can access AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo and other web messengers directly from your web browser.
rodolfo

hola
http://makeuseof.com Aibek

Hola!
Wahlau.NET

thanks…very usefull indeed
Tweistein

FYI About GAIM, new versio is called Pidgin
more info http://www.pidgin.im/
jon

hi at school alot of the web based messengers for msn are blocked ones like http://www.koolim.com nd iloveim.com all the well known ones does ne one know some more that arnt so well known so they wont be blocked

blue

i would love to know too please!!
everytime i find a new one .. the program people block it at my house
we have this really strict program called “webshield” at home for my brother’s sake .. unfortunately ‘for his sake’ hinders me
please email me if you have any brand new/incredibly unknown web based web based msn messengers .. THANKYOU
(they just blocked my latest find, flick.im :Z)

http://makeuseof.com Aibek

Hmmm, not sure what to suggest, you can also try imo.im

tiago

if you have all webmessengers blocked you can try MINGLEWORLD which i always use
kweldude

hi all

atlast only flick.im is working , iam woried tht if they block tht one too?wat to do?can any one sugest?

http://makeuseof.com Aibek

try imo.im. It’s relatively unknown, high chance it won’t be blocked.

Jxn

As Pingback wrote, Gaim is Pidgin now (http://pidgin.im/)

To use multi protocoll web IM site, have a look at http://meboo.com/

The best Jabber-client I have tried is Gajim, . Simply the best Jabber kient there is. Much better Jabber-klient than Pidgin (which sucks when it comes to Jabber).
To chat with others who has not seen the light, you can always use a Jabber Transport that transports chat to other protocols, like MSN, ICQ, IRQ, etc…

To use in mobile phones that have Java, I use Bombus, http://bombus-im.org/. Great software, but site in Russian . But links still in english http://www.bombus-im.org/index.php?page=download
Biddy

I’m surprised FRING ( http://www.fring.com ) wasn’t mentioned. It kicks a$$ for mobile use and it’s free. I have a Nokia E61i and use it to talk to my family overseas via skype, msn, yahoo or google talk. It is also compatible with some other ones I do not use. The sound quality is great, espcially on fring to fring calls. If you have an unlimitted data plan it is a great way to make free phone calls with the conformt of a mobile phone.
RGA

Is there any of these amazing tools working together with skype?
JUAN FROM MEXICO

Does any of them support “messaging from the web”?
What do I mean?
I want to receive an IM if somebody visits a very special page (like a “Contact us” page). It has to be an IM, I donÂ´t need any database recording, nor an email, I HAVE TO know that someone is there immediately.
Any solution?

Thanks
peedee

Nimbuzz is the best for cell phones, the list of features is not updated, it also has skype etc. I need a pc/windows all in one IM client including skype chat/talk, msn and icq, anybody can help me with this? (not trillian or some other client with a buggy skyllian plugin)
Manish

Is there any desktop messenger that support Yahoo, MSN and Gtalk along with Webcam broadcasting feature
Eduardo

Qnext has Gtalk also, and IRC is “coming soon”. Do not forget Empathy from Gnome.