Updated at FreeBizWare.
ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, QQ. If you, like me have an account in each of these instant messanging (IM) services, then you probably have all these programs installed. These programs not only take up valuable space in the notification area (especially on a notebook), they are also memory hog. Each comes with heaps of "features" that I never use.
Wouldn’t it be great if a single program can replace all of them? Enter Gaim.
Gaim is a multi-protocol instant messaging (IM) client. This mambo-jumbo jargon simply means that it can support multiple instant messaging services like ICQ, Yahoo, MSN all in a single program. In fact it supports more - AIM, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu (never heard or use it before). With plugin it can also support other IM protocol, for example QQ, a very popular IM service in China.
Gaim was not my first integrated IM. Like many open source applications it takes time to mature. When I first discovered Gaim, it was not very usable.
For a long time I use Trillian, a commercial integreated IM that started as a free download. However as it grew successful commercially, the free version was neglected to the extend that connection to services like yahoo and ICQ frequently break down.
Before that I exprimented with Jabber during its infancy. Even at that time, Jabber was prety promising. I cannot recall why it was dropped in favour of Trillian. Most likely the Yahoo support which was necessary for work.
Along the way I also tried Miranda and some others that I forgotten the name.
What I like about Gaim?
- Supports all my IM account in one program
- Chinese support
- Group same user from different IM service
- Multiple account from the same service
This is especially cool, I can have 2 Yahoo accounts running at the same time, one personal, one for work.
Room for improvement
- Better file transfer
- Better interface
To be fair, the GTK interface had improved tremendously but still rear its ugly head here and there. Especially bad when selecting file and folders - Smaller icons
I can’t stand large icons.
Where to get it?
Current version: 1.2.0 (Windows version)
Function: Multi-Instant Messaging Client
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