Been looking for me on Yahoo, MSN or AOL? Kelly doesn’t live there anymore.
I’ve been using FIVE instant message systems for a long time. Well, six if you count Twitter. (I know Twitter isn’t for IM, but it often gets used the way.)
I started out with ICQ way back in the old days but didn’t stick with it. I moved onto Yahoo and somewhere along the way I started using AOL and MSN messengers because some friend or family member was using it. Add Gtalk and Skype and I’m a mess.
Yes, I know there are tools that mesh them all together but I don’t think that’s my answer. I just want to be in one place, you know?
I’ve chosen Skype for my primary contact client. I use SkypeIn for my business telephone line and SkypeOut for the calls I need to make. I’ve got a lot of my near and dears as Skype contacts and all of the most important numbers saved as well. I’ve even got a tool on my BlackBerry to keep me in touch when I’m away.
Confession: Gtalk is still on my Gmail screen but I think of it more as ‘extra speedy email’ than instant messaging 
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All those messengers give me a headache. I found Digsby is the best of all of them. You can use Yahoo, MSN, ICQ, AIM, Facebook Messenger, MySpace Messenger and Jabber all in one nice clean window. Plus, you can check your gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL/AIM, IMAP and POP mail too. If that wasn’t enough you can keep in touch with Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn social networking accounts as well.
If you’re like me you’re running more than one pc – you can even take the app to different pc’s and they will all see the same info without having to re-enter all those accounts again. I love it!
Simplify your social life with Digsby
http://www.digsby.com
Blessings,
Wendy
P.S. No, I don’t work for them…I just love the software…LOL
Ah, ICQ. That’s the good old days. I used to have ICQ, AIM, and Yahoo Messenger open at the same time, but that was quite a while ago. Now I still have MSN Messenger and AIM open at all times. I am rarely using AIM though, so I am primarily chatting on MSN Messenger. But yeah, it’s difficult to keep track of so many at a time!
I too have run the gamut of IM services beginning about 14 years ago with ICQ. It seemed at one point I had an account with every service because my contacts were scattered across many applications and I’d use multiple IM clients (Trillian, Meebo, etc.) to try to contain it all in one space.
I’ve abandoned pretty much all of them for Skype as well. I do most of my business communication (text and voice) with Skype and now the only IM client I use apart from that is MSN Messenger which I mainly use with my teens who both seem to have MSN running 24/7 lol!
I think Skype has become the business (or at least online business) standard and I can even use it on my iPhone. A huge plus.
I only used ICQ for a little while too. I must say between Skype and Google Talk those are my fave ways to connect but on my blackberry I also have AIM for one local friend because she doesn’t know how to use any other messenger service. I kicked MSN and Yahoo Messengers recently because it’s too much!
What tool do you have for your Skype on your blackberry I have been trying to find a tool for Skype on my BB.
@Wendy – thanks for the Digsby recommend
@Kelvin – I discovered I can access AOL in my Gtalk – so I can keep a connection there for my sister who only knows how to use AOL.
@Marlin – used to use Trillian too
@Brandy – I’m using Skoot!
I wish someday that all social networks will get together and have one place to login and keep in touch with every single contact you have. Wouldn’t that be the day?
I’ve found Adium on the Mac to be good because it will log me in to Gtalk, iChat, AIM, and Facebook chat. I can then run my Twitter desktop app of choice. I find myself switching between Tweetdeck, Seesmic, Tweetie, and the browser based HootSuite. I rarely ever keep Skype running unless I’m planning to make a call. I think if I bought a SkypeIn number and then added that as a number for Google Voice I might use it more. I do pay for Skype Out and Call Recorder to reach landlines but I only use it a few times a month.