Instant Messaging Services

Staying connected with friends and family are a big reason that you got online in the first place.  VisionNet makes it easy for you to exchange messages with the people you care about 24 hours a day, regardless of what online service they use.

Below are links to the biggest providers of instant messaging services and descriptions of their services.  All of the services have their own advantages, but remember that they only work with users that have the same software on their computers.  All of the services listed are completely free to download and use.

AOL Instant Messenger works with AOL users and other users who have downloaded the AOL's Instant Messenger program.  It uses the same Buddy List system that AOL uses.  AOL Instant Messenger is very popular among ex-AOL users who want to keep in touch with their old AOL "buddies."

ICQ is the original Internet messaging service.  It has hundreds of thousands of users all over the world.  It offers a wide variety of features, including file transfers, video conferencing, a reminder service and more.  It is the tool of choice for technically savvy users, but installation and setup can be daunting to novices.

Yahoo! Messenger is increasing in popularity as an alternative to ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger.  It notifies the user when new mail arrives in his/her free Yahoo! Mail account, and allows communication between other users of Yahoo! Messenger.

Messenger Microsoft Messenger is the new kid on the instant message block.  Backed by Microsoft, expect it to become more widespread.  The key advantage of MSN's product was supposed to be its integration with AOL Instant Messenger, but Microsoft has met with some resistance.  MSN expects their product to work with AOL users soon, but right now it does not. It does allow users to check their free Hotmail account without going to the Hotmail page.

Ok, so now I know about IM. What is Chat?

What do all those crazy Abbreviations mean?