Some of the company or school doesn’t allow installing instant messenger application such as Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger. You can risk your job being terminated if they found out that you’ve installed any of the instant messaging program above. In school, there are all sorts of disciplinary actions can be taken against you if you install instant messaging program on the library computer. So what should you do if you need to send an important message to a friend or family?
Yes, that’s right. Use web based instant messenger. It eliminates the need to download and install the program. It can even work behind a firewall or proxy servers. Here’s are the links to ICQ, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger web based messaging.
1. ICQ
Notes: ICQ web messenger is called ICQ2Go! By default, it uses flash when you click on the big “Launch” button. If you prefer to use Java web based version, there’s a link where you can click on the ICQ2Go! Java. I’d prefer Flash over Java because not all computer has Java installed and Java takes time and resources to load. Flash is faster.
Link: http://download.icq.com/download/icq2go/
2. Yahoo! Messenger
Notes: Yahoo! web based messenger is newly launched. Some of the countries are not yet supported. Maybe changing the Country on your profiles lets you use Yahoo! web messenger. If can’t, there are alternatives at the end of this article.
Link: http://webmessenger.yahoo.com/
3. Google Talk
Notes: Google Talk web based messenger is called “Google Talk Gadget”. Click on the “Launch Google Talk” button and sign in with your Google account.
Link: http://www.google.com/talk/
4. Windows Live Messenger
Notes: Very plain web design with no screenshot of web based Windows Live Messenger. However, it works the same. Just click on the “Start MSN Web Messenger” button and sign in with your Passport account.
Link: http://webmessenger.msn.com/
5. AOL Instant Messenger
Notes: The last time I remembered installing this application was 8 years ago. However, it doesn’t mean that no one is using it. If I am not wrong, many people from USA has an AOL account. Now AOL and ICQ can talk to each other, so there is no need to use AOL if you have ICQ.
Link: http://aimexpress.aim.com/
All the above websites are OFFICIAL web based instant messenger. There are also third party websites that provides all in one web based instant messaging. If you’re afraid of your instant messenger login being used on the third party websites, you can use the official ones instead.
1. Meebo
Notes: The most popular third party web based instant messenger website. Supports the most instant messaging networks which is Yahoo, MSN, Google, ICQ, Jabber and AIM.
Link: http://www.meebo.com/
2. eBuddy
Notes: An alternative to Meebo except doesn’t support ICQ and Jabber. Clean interface and not too much advertisements.
Link: http://www.ebuddy.com/
3. ILoveIM
Notes: The least that I like because it has a lot of advertisements. But it still works and can be another alternative in case the administrator of your network has banned all web based instant messaging website but missed this one.
Link: http://www.iloveim.com/