Free Chat Programs and Chat
Services
- CrZyChat - This is a
nice IRC-style, Java-based chat service that you
can add to your own Web site. The free version
offers personalized chat rooms that give you
administrative control over them. This chat
service can be accessed by any IRC chat client.
- Chatterbox - This new
site offers a roundup of 11 free Java chat
networks. You may either chat here, or, if you
have a Web site of your own, you may place one of
these chat networks on your page.
- ScreenFire - This
amazing free program lets you instantly send
messages to another user's desktop. ScreenFire
lets you communicate with anyone worldwide in
real time and can save you time by eliminating
unnecessary E-mails and phone calls.
- ChatSpace Desktop - You can
create your own chat service with this cool,
full-featured chat system that provides a
complete chat environment for Windows. ChatSpace
includes a server that coordinates the chat
session between users, as well as a Web-based
interface (using Java) that allows you to control
the chat environment. (Free for personal,
noncommercial use.)
- Microsoft
NetMeeting - With this cool program, you
can hold "virtual meetings." NetMeeting
offers various tools to communicate and
collaborate with others on the Web. It lets you
hold voice and video conferences, share software
applications, chat, and share a whiteboard.
- ICQ chat program - An
incredible chat program from Israel that ranks as
one of the Web's coolest freeware programs. ICQ's
features could fill a book: it allows you to
transfer files; travel in groups to different Web
pages; play sound effects and much more. The
program is very easy to use and has a very
attractive and useful interface that allows you
to keep track of several simultaneous
conversations.
- Channel Z - If you're
new to the Web and haven't tried "chat"
(communicating in real-time with other people
online) then Channel Z is a good place to try it
out. It's very easy to get connected here. No
complicated software to install. Just sign up and
you can start chatting through your browser.
- Palace Chat - Palace is a
popular, easy-to-use chat service, with regularly
scheduled live events and hundreds of virtual
graphical environments to roam around. You can
access this innovative chat community for free as
a "guest" for as long as you like. Just
download the software client to get started. You
can also experience "InstantPalace,"
which lets you check out the service without the
hassle of a download (but your browser needs to
support Java).
- OzChat - This free
service lets you chat in "public rooms"
and gives you the ability to create your own
private room. Just click on "Create
Room," and follow the instructions. Once a
week, each room created will have its contents
cleared and after 7 days of inactivity, these
rooms will automatically be erased. This is a
good chat service from Australia (although the
site loads quickly for those in the U.S.)
- PeopleLink - This new
free software service enables you to communicate
instantly with people online. PeopleLink gives
you "interactive messaging", a new
medium that combines the best features of E-mail
(ease-of-use, safety and selectivity) with the
one major advantage of chat, interactivity. (For
Windows and Mac).
- Pagoo - Has it
become impossible for your friends to contact you
by phone because you're always online? Then check
out Pagoo, an innovative way to communicate
between you and your friends. Pagoo is a free
unique service that delivers phone calls to the
user's desktop while they are online. Your
callers can leave you a voice mail or a numeric
message just like a pager. (For Windows).
- SneakerChat.com - SneakerChat,
a Java-based program, allows anyone to set up a
chat room on their Web site. With SneakerChat,
you do not need server software to set up your
own rooms (as long as you are not going to use
them from behind a firewall).
- Visual IRC - Powerful
freeware chat client that features an Office
97-like user interface, voice chat and video
conferencing. Visual IRC also offers an
object-oriented scripting language (ViRCScript)
and support for Active Scripting. Suitable for
newbies and experiences users alike. The Web's
top IRC client.
- Beseen.com - This
service is offering free chat rooms. Adding a
chat room to your Web site is free and simple.
There's nothing to download and there are no CGI
programs to configure. To create your free chat
room, visit their site and answer a few
questions, and your chat room will be ready to go
within minutes.
- Microsoft V-Chat - With this
awesome client, you start by selecting an
"avatar," (a graphical representation
for yourself.) With your avatar you can chat,
gesture, or explore 2D or 3D environments. Choose
from a wide selection of avatars or make your
own.
- PowWow - PowWow is a
popular Windows-based communications program for
the Internet that allows up to 9 users to chat
via typing or voice; send files; view personal
home pages and JPEG pictures; and cruise the Web
together.
- Kids PowWow - This is a
version of PowWow for children up to age 13. It
creates a fun, but protective environment for
kids who want to use PowWow. Kids PowWow alerts
children when an adult pages them, or when they
page an adult. The PowWow for Kids home page
provides conferences (which have profanity
filters) and other features.
- Online Traveler - This is a
3D Virtual World program that provides real-time
group communication by allowing groups of people
to meet in a virtual environment and talk with
their own voices through expressive, animated
avatars.
- ichat Pager - With this
cool client, you can be instantly connected to
friends and associates and see who's on line. You
may send messages instantly; participate in
real-time discussions; and page friends 24 hours
a day.
- Active Worlds
Browser -This is one of the
all-around coolest freebies on the Web. It's a
browser that lets you access AlphaWorld, a
unique, 3D virtual community populated by real
people. The Active Worlds universe boasts
hundreds of thousands of users and thousands of
kilometers of virtual territory. You can explore
over 100 worlds in real-time, 3D, high-color
graphics. You can even "own" land and
build anything you'd like on your property, from
a simple house to an elaborate palace (a process
that is quite easy). Active Worlds is more than a
piece of software; it's a way of life! (Note: you
need a Pentium with Win 95/NT and 24 megs of hard
drive space.)
- AOL Instant
Messenger - This excellent program,
once available only to AOL users, is now
available to the entire online community. It
offers many cool features. It allows you to see
who's currently online and lets you send quick
and private instant messages. It's "faster
than E-mail and more fun than the phone."
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