Instant Messaging Services

[Gordon N]

It's poll time again folks, purely out of curiosity!

I spent some time today looking at 'Multi-Protocol' Instant Messaging clients that allow you to add all your aol, msn, yahoo etc, friends on to one application - rather than running each app individually. I have contacts on three different platforms and it does my head in having to run three clients plus whatever I am working on at the time (which can often be three or four full blown design or development apps + outlook + TweetDeck +FTP all sorts!)

I would like to find out which of the IM systems is the most popular...

So my question is "What application do use for your instant messaging services?"

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

Have voted for MSN myself as that's the one I tend to use.

One that does spring to mind that is multiclient is Pidgin.

Pidgin, the universal chat client

 

[Canary Dwarf]

pidgin is the only one I know of. that's meant to be any good. I use skype exclusively, and fring on my phone

 

[Gordon N]

I was looking at Pidgin yesterday, along with Trillium and a web service called Meebo.

What I am really after is one that caters for all IM services including Skype (none of them seem to cover Skype at all!).

 

[Boxby]

I have to confess that I have never used any?

What's the advantages over email?/phone?

 

[visagephoto]

I have to confess that I have never used any?

What's the advantages over email?/phone?

I'm with Boxby, I don't know the first thing about it. :blushing:

 

[Mike Lewis]

Gordon,

How about adding another option to the poll: "None".

Mike

 

[stugster]

I also use IRC

 

[Neil Ballantyne]

Have used and liked Pidgin in the past, though these days tend to use MSN the most.

In terms of usefulness vs email/phone, IM tends to allow for more fluid discussions than email and I personally find it less of an interruption than a phone call. The presence information (Available / Busy / Away) is pretty useful if paid attention to.

 

[Canary Dwarf]

I have to confess that I have never used any?

What's the advantages over email?/phone?

To be honest, since I started working for myself, I have reduced the use of Skype IM by always being 'not available' I find IM chats disruptive to workflow.

 

[Gordon N]

I find IM chats disruptive to workflow.

Surely not if it's a customer?

 

[stugster]

As a web host, a lot of our clients like to have instant contact with the support department. We have a general support MSN address, and an IRC Chat Room dedicated to providing first line tech support.

Some special clients even have my personal MSN address for direct support

 

[Canary Dwarf]

Surely not if it's a customer?

I use IM for 'selected' customers, where it adds value to the relationship.

The trouble I find is that each line has to be checked for spelling, grammar and misinterpretation. I think misinterpretation is a big issue with IM. You don't really get the chance to say, or qualify, what you mean.

I was seriously put off IM by one particular customer. He would rattle on for 45 mins, pasting large amounts of text into the IM window, then say a few days later 'i skyped you the information'. Added to that, he had five skype accounts and would send stuff from different accounts