Microsoft and Yahoo have teamed up to allow users of their instant-messaging clients to chat with each other. So does it really matter anymore which IM tool you choose? No, if all you need is to dash quick text notes to pals. But if you want video, VoIP, or file sharing, you'll still have to play favorites.
Users of Windows Live and Yahoo Messenger with Voice 8 beta can now type to each other (emoticons included), and that's about it. First, all buddies must use the latest edition of each messenger, which you can grab from Yahoo or Microsoft. From either program, choose Add A Contact to include new buddies one by one; bulk exports and imports of contacts aren't available. The interoperability is in beta testing, so you may run across glitches. And, of course, users of AIM and other competitors are left out.
Now that you can expand your text chatting contacts, which service should you stick with for other features? Yahoo Messenger with Voice 8 is the better pick for calling plans, as it lets people ring you at a phone number, and some of its international rates beat Windows Live's. However, Windows Live Messenger does a better job at full-screen video chatting. And while Yahoo allows you to drag and drop files to instantly grab from or send to a friend for downloading, Windows Live sets up handy Sharing Folders that put security options front and center. Microsoft's approach lets you save a mirror of your buddies' files on your hard drive and view the changes in real time.
Both free apps pack a wallop of features, if you don't mind bells and whistles along with an array of embedded promotions. Google Talk beta, on the other hand, offers a frills-free look and feel, as do Trillian and GAIM, which let you easily add buddies from a variety of IM clients.
Read the CNET editor's take
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8.0 out of 10
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