It's time once again for our featured Movers & Shakers post. Each week we are taking one software category from CNet and listing the top ten most downloaded apps in it.

This week we will be looking at communication software. These are the apps that we use to connect with others, chat or email with our contacts (or strangers) as well as make phone calls via our computers. I use a bunch of these applications myself.

1. Camfrog Video Chat
	You can join already created online video chat rooms to connect with people all over the world. This is a great place to test out your camera and microphone. Warning this is very addictive!
2. ManyCam Virtual Webcam
	Using ManyCam you can add all sorts of effects and graphics to your videos. What it does is create a virtual webcam made up of your actual webcam feed and whatever effects or modifications you have added. This is a lot of fun.
3. Windows Live Messenger
	Windows built-in instant messaging application. I have never been a big fan of it but it works well and allows for video chat. You can use your Hotmail or Live ID to sign into their service.
4. Trillian Astra
	Trillian is an application I use all day long. I connect to my multiple chat networks with it like AIM, Gmail and ICQ. It works great and it's free. What more could you want?
5. Yahoo Messenger
	I have never personally used Yahoo Messenger but from what I have read about it, it is a full featured chat client that allows you to chat with other Yahoo chat users.

1. Skype Everyone's favorite phone. This allows you to connect to others using audio and video chat. It is free for the most part and allows people from remote corners of the world to meet others they have never seen before. This is great for keeping up with your colleagues from work as well.
2. SkypeLauncher Have you ever wanted to launch multiple instances of Skype so you can be logged in as multiple users simultaneously? Well now you can, as well as making Skype portable with some magic from this application.
3. VZOchat A web camera enabled chat client that allows you to talk to others over the web.
4. Nokia PC Suite This allows you to connect your Nokia device to your computer and sync up your contacts and other data as well as install software on your device and use your device from your computer.
5. NokiaFree Unlock Codes Calculator Unlock features that your carrier has blocked as well as removing other carrier and SIM restrictions easily and for free.

How do you connect with others using free software? We would love to hear about it in the comments!