Instant Messaging Break-Down

Cnet has a very thorough breakdown of some of the most poular instant messaging clients; Windows Live Messenger, AIM Triton 1.2 Preview, Yahoo Instant messenger with Voice 8, ICQ 5.04, Skype 2, and Google Talk. They have put together a chart which highlights and compares each of these client features including their video chat, voice calling, photosharing and spam protection capabilities - just to name a few. The page also has links to more in depth reviews of these programs. This is a must-have resource, since all of these major players keep coming out with new great features in an effort to one-up each other. Unfortunately, none of these Instant Messengers do it all perfectly just yet, so it often pays to mix and match. For example, AIM Triton is currently offering a free U.S. Phone number to receive unlimited free incoming phone calls. Meanwhile, Skype is offering free outgoing phone calls to the U.S. and Canada till the end of the year. Between the two of them, you could be saving a lot on your phone bill.