All about instant messaging

Introduction

Instant messaging is all the rage now, and rightly so... at least if used with moderation. It appears that they're all built on the idea that each user first connects to a server to indicate that they are online, and possibly download a list of contacts along with their status (Online, Away, Busy, etc.). Actual conversations are usually achieved in peer-to-peer mode, ie. packets are sent and received directly without going being routed through central servers, although this can be changed (eg. ICQ lets you hide your IP address at the expense of going through its servers instead of connecting directly to your contact's PC.)

Trillian

Gaim

http://gaim.sourceforge.net/

Miranda

Yahoo Messenger (web interface)

This version is a Java application that runs by connecting on Yahoo's web site, ie. no need to install anything (provided the Java Virtual Machine is installed). Since it's a web-based application, I assume it runs even if connections to the Net are restricted by firewalls.

  1. Connect to http://messenger.yahoo.com/#webmessenger
  2. Enter your Yahoo account name and password
  3. In the window that pops up, click on "Sign In"
  4. In the Login menu, select Connect, and click on "Sign In" again (mmm...)

Yahoo Messenger (dedicated client)

Seems to connect to a server at yahoo.com on TCP 5050. Target port for file transfer is TCP 81 by default. To connect to a chat room, connects to Yahoo server on UDP 5000.

Setup

  1. Download the latest and greatest from http://messenger.yahoo.com (localized versions also available)
  2. Run the executable that you just downloaded
  3. Close this window by clicking on the X in the upper right-hand corner


  4. We will now ask Yahoo to generate a new login account: In the Login dialog, in the "New User?" frame, click on "Get a Yahoo ID"


  5. Just fill in this dialog with any information (It doesn't matter). I recommend that you uncheck "Send me special offers..." if you want to lower the amount of SPAM you are already getting in your mailbox:


  6. Here, you must choose the name of your Yahoo Messenger: You can either choose one of the accounts that Yahoo generated based on the First/Last names you gave previously, or choose a totally different login. Next, choose a password. For security reasons, I recommend that you uncheck "Remember my ID and Password"; Otherwise, anyone who has access to your computer will be able to log on with this account and pass as you...


  7. Here, you are asked to input some question-answer in case you forget your password. The Birthday field might be used in case you chose a question that was age-related, but it might also be used by Yahoo to build statistics and possibly sell your e-mail account to companies interested in people in your age bracket... Current Email Address is used to send you your password in case you forgot about it. Since I don't like giving out a valid e-mail account to companies unless I really have to, I recommend you type a dummy e-mail address...


  8. Unless you are using Internet Exploder and would like Yahoo to add its icon in the toolbar, uncheck the "Set my browser home page..."


  9. Done! Now, log on with the new Yahoo Messenger account that you just created:


  10. If, just like I do, you like uncluttered interfaces, you can make it simple by removing items through the View menu:

     

 

Tips

To enable use of webcam, you must first select Tools | Invite to view my webcam. Next, you can changes webcam-related settings through Login | Preferences | Webcam

To view a user's profile: http://profiles.yahoo.com/usersID

Some interesting settings are available  in the Login > Privacy Settings section.

Q&A

When copy/pasting, how to force Yahoo to use the same font and size?

Resources

List of smileys: here, here, here, (FR) here

Older versions: here and here

MSN

  1. Connect to www.hotmail.com, and create an e-mail account
  2. Connect to www.msn.com, and click on Connection
  3. Create an Microsoft Messenger account
  4. Download the MSN client
  5. Install the application, and connect to the MSN network using the account you just created

Seems to connect to a server at hotmail.com on TCP 1863

http://messenger.msn.com/

Icons: http://help.microsoft.com/EN_US/HelpWindow_msg.asp?INI=msgr_msnv46.ini&H_VER=1.7&Topic=emoticons.htm&H_APP=MSN%20Messenger&Filter=msn

Privacy settings in Tools > Options > Privacy

ICQ

Originally an independent company called Mirabillis from Israel; Acquired by AOL. Seems to connect to a server at login.icq.com (205.188.179.233 or 64.12.162.57 or 64.12.28.209) on TCP 5190

http://www.icq.com/download/

ICQ Groupware is available for use in a private network

Privacy settings in Main > Preferences & Securitu

AIM

AOL

Proteus

EasyMessage

http://www.easymessage.net/

Waste

"WASTE is an anonymous, secure, and encryped collaboration tool which allows users to both share ideas through the chat interface and share data through the download system. WASTE is RSA secured, and has been hearalded as the most secure P2P connection protocol currently in development."

IP Messenger

"IP Messenger is a pop up style LAN messaging software for multi platforms. It is based on TCP/IP(UDP). It does not require server machine. Simple, lightweight, and compact size." Last updated 2004/09/08

G-Messenger and LAN Chat Enterprise by KGY Soft

Resources