Subject - Chating

Online chat can refer to any kind of communication over Internet, but is primarily meant to refer to direct one-on-one chat or text-based group chat (formally also known as synchronous conferencing), using tools such as instant messaging applications—computer programs, Internet Relay Chat, talkers and possibly MUDs, MUCKs, MUSHes and MOOes.

While many of the Internet's well-known services offer online chat and messaging services for free, an increasing number of providers are beginning to show strong revenue streams from for-pay services. Again it is the adult service providers, profiting from the advent of reliable and high-speed broadband, (notably across Eastern Europe) who are at the forefront of the for-pay online chat revolution.

For every business traveller engaging in a video call or conference call rather than braving the check-in queue, there are countless web users replacing traditional conversational means with online chat and messaging. Like email, which has reduced the need for and usage of letters, faxes, and memos, online chat is steadily replacing telephony as the means of office and home communication. The early adopters in these areas are undoubtedly teenage users of instant messaging. It might not be long before SMS text messaging usage declines as mobile handsets provide the technology for online chat.


General terms
Chat room
Web chat site
Voice chat
VoIP Voice over IP
Live support software
Online discussion
Online discourse environment
Chatgroups


Protocols/Programs
Talker
Internet Relay Chat
Instant messenger
PalTalk
Galeax
Talk (Unix)
Meetro
MUD
MUSH
MOO
Mimichat
Google Talk
Yahoo! Messenger
OohYa! Chat
PSYC
Skype
SILC
Windows Live Messenger
Campfire
Teamspeak
Tangler
Chatablanca
RealTimeQuery
Tiscali Chat (Java)


Chat programs supporting multiple protocols
Adium
Pidgin
Meetro
Miranda IM
Trillian
Kopete
IMVU


Online Chatting Sites Supporting Multiple Protocols
FlickIM
RadiusIM
Meebo
Buddystumbler


Online Anonymous Chatting Sites
BobChatter