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Filed under: Audio, Internet, Blogging, P2P

MySpace IM with Skype released

MySpace IM with Skype releasedMySpace is on the move to add some extra value to their online offerings, and as we mentioned in October, it looks like things are starting with an overhaul of their IM tool.

In its previous incarnation, MySpaceIM was a bare bones instant messaging application. It launched early last year and then disappeared for a while. Now myspaceim is back, and MySpace has partnered with Skype to add VoIP calling to the chat client.

MySpace users will instantly have their friends list populated with upon install with one click login to mail and bulletins. MySpace friends profiles are also one click away.

The social networking site claims the beta version of the client has been installed over 500,000 times. Now that MySpace is taking the beta label off of the chat client, we expect to see that number climb even higher. But will MySpace users who don't already know one another offline actually like to talk with each other rather than just add each other as friends?

Filed under: Internet, E-mail, P2P

AIM in Gmail

AIM in GmailToday sure is the day for little Gmail tweaks. First they announced Colored Labels, and now AIM integration.

With Google's Gmail you can now chat with friends that have an AIM account through the Google Talk interface. When you sign into your AIM account through Gmail, your AIM buddies will be populated in your Contact list. Of course you need an AIM account to use this feature.

To check to see if you have a lucky account (we're sure they'll be rolling this out to all users soon) logout, then log back into your account and click on Settings, from there visit the Chat tab and look at the bottom of the list for the section named AIM. Sign in, and your ready to go.

UPDATE; TIP: Make sure you are signed into Gmail chat in order for AIM chat to be activated.

Filed under: Internet, Web services, P2P

Meebo moves to the Firefox sidebar

Meebo moves to the Firefox sidebarMeebo, the web-based instant messaging application that runs across all major IM networks has released a Firefox add-on giving users a browser sidebar for easy chatting.

The Meebo Firefox add-on makes it much easier to chat with friends while browsing online. No more switching from application to application or from the Meebo homepage to the page browsing. The sidebar gives users a visual notification, the side pane pops open, when contacts send you an instant message. No more pasting links and uploading and sending images either, the add-on allows for dragging and dropping links and images right onto contacts you wish to send them to.

It would be nice to have all actions take place in the sidebar, but one drawback with the new add-on is that when IMs are sent and received you are instantly booted to a Meebo Firefox tab that must keep open at all times in order to remain signed in. Meebo's line of web based IM tools include Meebo; a web based IM for all networks and MeeboMe; a way to chat with people directly from a website.

Filed under: Business, Design, Developer, Internet, E-mail, Web services, P2P, Social Software, Beta

Facebook IM launching soon

Facebook IM launching soonGet ready for a whole new Facebook. Instant Messaging is getting set to find a home in the ever expanding, bulging at the seams social network.

Just when you thought that all that news about Facebook's valuation, the developer grants, and the possible Microsoft investment was enough to raise the roof on their worth, we hear news that the site is launching an IM client.. A new Facebook IM is set to go into Beta this Friday and will take on the likes of MSN, AIM, Google Talk, and Yahoo. We would imagine that this could not be used as a standalone application, and would work inline with Facebook profiles. Sam Sethi has received an early look at the beta, and enjoys the fact that there is no download or install necessary. But will it replace your standard IM?

With Yahoo! and MSN being somewhat locked down in their protocols, we are sure that things will change as the Facebook IM becomes the new in "instant messaging application". But for now, it looks like only chatting between Facebook friends is possible.

UPDATE: The Facebook IM application FriendVox, is rumored to be in development by a third party called Techlightenment, who specialize in Facebook application development.

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