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Since Windows Live Messenger will shut down for most people (aside from Mainland China), in March, does anyone know any viable alternatives with similar features?

I don't want to lose the ability to share photos, and the ability to use custom emoticons that were available in Windows Live Messenger.

Thanks for your help,

Silverknight

nukestar
2013-05-22 17:39:34
How about aMSN?
Adrie Kooijman
2013-04-20 19:39:09
And of course torchat for those who value their privacy.
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Adrie Kooijman
2013-04-20 19:27:54
I've been using Miranda IM for many years. As pidgin and others It can use many protocols from wlm to yahoo gmail gadu gadu and many more (bu no native skype)I particulary like Miranda because she's female (kidding) and because of the compact, interface. Furthermore there are tons off addons to add extra protocols, skins, iconsets and so on.See http://www.miranda-im.org/
IMan
2013-04-01 21:09:59
Trillian Pidgin Digsby These are all great as they support multiple IM's. Even if your contacts use Gtalk, MSN, Skype, ICQ, or anything else you can add them. Look them up and pick your choice :) I don't like Skype because 1. no offline messages and 2. no custom emoticons
IMan
2013-04-01 21:08:45
TrillianPidginDigsbyThese are all great as they support multiple IM's. Even if your contacts use Gtalk, MSN, Skype, ICQ, or anything else you can add them.Look them up and pick your choice :)I don't like Skype because 1. no offline messages and 2. no custom emoticons
Ahmed Musani
2013-01-11 12:15:26
Skype is a better alternative amongst gmail and others
Joseph
2013-04-09 00:11:31
I agree with George. Skype is no alternative to WLM. I've been using Trillian since I was told WLM would shut down, although I'm still looking for something better. I have a gmail account, so after reading this, perhaps I'll just abandon my hotmail completely and go with them.
Douglas Mutay
2013-01-10 12:41:07
I can suggest you using Google Talk. I had to completeley switch to it although hotmail used to be my favorite. Gtalk has a lot of good features and the one i particularly like is the go "off the record". Why? because sometimes, you don't want a particular chat with someone to be saved. Most IM services give no indication of whether the person you're chatting with is saving your conversation. But when chatting Gtalk, you can go "off the record," so that nothing typed from that point forward gets saved in anyone's Gmail account. Plus you have video chat, you can also call another computer. Also check out this great article from MUO http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-reasons-gtalk-free-instant-messagin-service/
Yiz Borol
2013-01-10 10:09:29
Skype works pretty well, I don't know about custom emoticons but it has a fairly robust number of emoticons and it also provides file sharing. plus you get video chat
Silhoutte James
2013-01-10 07:32:46
Use Gtalk or gmail messanger, or you can chose to work on yahoo messanger. These both messangers have all the features which you want.http://www.mizwhiz.com/women-and-internet/e-mail/forget-e-mailing-use-these-cool-never-before-features-of-your-gmail-account.html
ha14
2013-01-09 22:00:16
5 Alternatives to Windows Live Messengerhttp://onsoftware.en.softonic.com/5-alternatives-to-windows-live-messenger
Nirdesh Naagar
2013-01-09 19:12:57
what about gmail messenger?