IM Basics

How do you get started? The best way is to find a few friends already using IM, and install the same IM software they are already using. To make it easy for you, we've created a step-by-step guide to selecting and setting up your first instant messenger.

• Getting Started with Instant Messaging
• What are Emoticons or Smileys?
• Chat Lingo
• IM Interoperability
• Downloads

All About Instant Messaging

Instant messaging allows you to detect when your friends are online and send them short messages in real-time. People just like you and I are finding instant messaging a great way to keep in touch with friends, family and business associates. In fact, Jupiter Media Metrix has declared that instant messaging is the fastest-growing segment of the Internet, estimating that by 2003, 90% of the online population will use IM.

The BigBlueBall Instant Messaging Centers

What about the other instant messengers? Don't see your favorite here? Speak out in our Alternative IM Applications forum.

 

Latest Instant Messaging News

FOR SALE 3G Gold 24k Apple Iphone 16gb....$400

HASSAN BROTHERS LIMITED
Registered No. 06499317

We have alot of mobile phones and Ipods in stock,they are all brand new,the phones are unlocked/with complete accessories.

We are on a Bonanza,If you order for 3 mobile phone,you will get 1 mobile phone for free as your order discount.

=========================================
BONANZA!BONANZA!!BONANZA!!!BUY THREE AND GET ONE FOR FREE.
==========================================

SPECIFICATIONS:
(europeans/usa-specifications) general network gsm 900/gsm 1800/gsm 1900 platform - tri band (gsm900 + 800 + 1900 MHz: countries where manufactured: Finland and Hungary.

EMAIL...

phillipq00z@live.com
phillipq00z@gmail.com

MSN CHAT : phillipq00z@live.com


Here is our company products catalogue for your interest and inquiry.

Apple iphone
-------------------
3G Apple Iphone 16gb..$330
3G Gold 24k Apple Iphone 16gb....$400
Apple iphone 16gb.....$300
Apple iPhone 4GB......$150
Apple iPhone 8GB......$180

-------------------
NOKIA PHONES
-------------------
Nokia N80.........$180
Nokia E90.........$320
Nokia E60.........$140
Nokia S60.........$160
Nokia N93........$220
Nokia N92........$210
Nokia N95........$250
Nokia N95 (8GB)$300
Nokia N91.........$220
Nokia N99.........$500
Nokia N97.........$300
Nokia N90........$200
Nokia N70........$180
Nokia N73........$200
Nokia N7..........$150
Nokia 8800 Sirocco....$280
Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold$280
Nokia N93i......$240
Nokia n96.......$400

--------------------------
HTC MOBILE PHONES
---------------------------
HTC SHIFT UMPC..........$250
HTC Advantage X7500.......$200
HTC P4350 Pocket PC (unlocked).....$250
HTC X7501 Cell Phone.........$170
HTC TyTN Unlocked SmartPhone....$200
HTC TyTN II................$150
HTC CRUISE................$270

-----------------------------
GAMES
-----------------------------
GameBoy Advance.............$200
Nintendo DS......................$200
Nintendo Wii Game Console...$250
Game Cube Platinum.................$180
XBox 360 Game Console Core System.$280
Sony PlayStation 3 60GB System..........$280
Sony PLAYSTATION 3 (80GB)Console..$300
Sony PlayStation 2 Console....................$200

---------------------------
BLACKBERRY PHONES
----------------------------
BlackBerry Pearl 8800..........$200
Blackberry 8800....................$180
BlackBerry 8703e Verizon....$120
BlackBerry 8820...................$150
Blackberry 8707g.................$150
Blackberry 8100 Pearl.......$180

-------------------------
SIDE KICKS PHONES:
-------------------------
Sick kick .............. 140usd
Side kick 2............ 160usd
Side kick 3 ........... 180usd

-----------------
Qtek phones
------------------
Qtek S200 .......100usd
Qtek 9000 .......130usd
Qtek 8310 .......100usd
Qtek 8300 .......100usd
Qtek 9100 .......150usd
Qtek 8100 .......140usd
Qtek S110 .......140usd
Qtek S100 .......100usd
Qtek 9090 .......130usd
Qtek 8020 .......140usd
Qtek 8010 .......160usd
Qtek 2020i ......140usd

----------------------
I-IMATE PHONES:
----------------------
I-Mate Jasjam.........200usd
I-Mate Jamin..........210usd
I-Mate Jasjar...........220usd
I-Mate Jam Black...200usd
I-Mate Pda2............230usd
I-Mate Pocket PC..190usd
I-Mate Jam..............250usd

----------------
IPOD
-----------------
iPod 20GB iPod........$100
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Pink M9435LL/A.....$90
Apple 40 GB iPod photo.............................$150
Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9160LL/A..$100
Apple 60 GB iPod Photo M9830LL/A........$150
Apple 60 GB iPod photo............................$170
Apple 4 GB iPod Nano..............................$80
Apple 30 GB iPod Vidoe...........................$130
Apple 60 GB iPod Vidoe...........................$180
Apple 80 GB iPod Vidoe...........................$200

------------------
LAPTOPS
============
SONY VAIO T370P/L-- 60GB HD-- 512MB RAM-- XP PRO----------$600
SONY VAIO LAPTOP-- VGN-A117S----------------------------------$600
SONY VAIO LAPTOP-- VGN-S1XP------------------------------------$800
APPLE G5 POWERMAC 2.0GHZ DESKTOP COMPUTER-------------$700
APPLE G4 POWERBOOK 1.5GHZ SUPERDRIVE WITH 17 INCH DISPLAY--$800
APPLE G5 POWERMAC 2.5GHZ DESKTOP COMPUTER---------$800
TOSHIBA SATELLITE LAPTOP-- P20-102--------------------------$500
TOSHIBA SATELLITE LAPTOP-- A40-892----------------------------$450
APPLE IBOOK 1GHZ COMBO WITH 12 INCH DISPLAY--------------$400

==============
TELEVISION
==============
Panasonic TH-42PD50U Television.....$600USD
Panasonic TH-42PX50U Television.....$1000USD
Panasonic TH-50PX50U Television.....$1500USD
Panasonic TH-65PHD7UY Television....$1500USD
Pioneer PDP-5050HD Television.......$1000USD
Samsung LN-R408D - LCD TV - 40....$800usd
Samsung PPM63H3-plasma panel 63...$1500usd
Samsung HP-P5071 50-inch 1366X768 HD Plasma TV Ref.....$800usd
Samsung HPP5031 - plasma panel - 50...$1000usd
Pioneer PDP-5050HD Television.......$1000USD
Sharp 32" Aquos HD-Ready LCD TV....$500usd.

------------------
NEW PIONEER
------------------
NEW PIONEER CDJ-1000 MP3 MK3 PLAYER........$450
NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK3 PLAYER .........$320
NEW PIONEER CDJ-800 MP3 MK2 PLAYER .........$280
NEW PIONEER DJM 1000...$700
NEW PIONEER DJM 800.....$600
NEW PIONEER DJM 600....$500
NEW Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD ...........$700
Pioneer DVJ-1000 AUDIO ...........$600
Pioneer CMX-3000 Twin CD Player...$800
Pioneer DJM-400..................$350
Pioneer DJM-300(s) Mixer ........$120
Pioneer DJM-600 Mixer ...........$520
Pioneer DJM-3000 19" Mixer ......$330
Pioneer DJM-909 Battle Mixer.....$600
Technics SL-1200MK2.................$600
Technics SL-DZ 1200..................$350
Technics SL-1210M5G Pro Turntable.. .$380
Technics SL-1210MK2 Turntable $170
Technics SL-1210MK5 Pro Turntable ...$250


===================
BULK PURCHASE
===================
10 UNIS NOKIA N96...............$4000 USD+FREE SHIPPING
10 UNIS NOKIA N95 8GB...........$3000 USD+FREE SHIPPING
10 UNIS APPLE IPHONE 16GB.......$3000 USD+FREE SHIPPING
10 units Apple iPhone 8GB.......$2500 USD+FREE SHIPPING
10 units Playstation 3 80gb.....$1800 USD+FREE SHIPPING

For Enquiries:
We offer prompt ,safe and best Shipping from OUR Warehouse, the product will arrive within 48 Hours Via Either Fedex / Dhl / Ems and Ups Courier Sevices

-----------
warranty
-----------
We are given you 1year international warranty and you are guarantee 100% delivery to you at your doorstep within 48hrs.

OUR POLICY
************************
Our services and terms are base on customers relationship and trust for effective and long term business relationship and 100% customer service including our customers safety because we strive to have excellent communication & customer service.

RETURN POLICY
****************************
You may return the item within {30} days of

delivery.Products with Manufacturer Warranty which

exceed 40 days,could be returned directly to the

manufacturer according to their instructions.

KINDLY PLACE YOUR ORDER IN THE BELOW MANNER SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED ON
PACKAGING AND LABELLINGS IMMEDIATELY

FULL NAME ::
PRODUCTS BRAND AND MODEL ::
QUANTITY ::
ADDRESS ::
CITY ::
ZIP CODE ::
COUNTRY ::
MOBILE/TELEPHONE NUMBER :

EMAIL...

phillipq00z@live.com
phillipq00z@gmail.com

MSN CHAT : phillipq00z@live.com

HASSAN BROTHERS LIMITED

Regards
 
 

OctroTalk with Real Time Video Conferencing & Video Streaming -- First of its kind

OctroTalk 2.0 for Windows Mobile - this version now has real time Video Conferencing with VoIP, File Transfer, Instant Messaging and Avatar support. You can have video calls if you have OctroTalk running at both ends. OctroTalk desktop version also supports video conferencing.

You can also stream live video to Web. Add 3001@switch.octro.net to your buddy list in OctroTalk, and make a video call to this buddy. Users can look at what you are streaming by going to Octro and entering the username as your JID. (Your JID is your Jabber/Gmail ID that you are using to log onto OctroTalk.

Currently the front camera support is for Samsung Blackjack, and not for HTC phones (HTC hasn't opened up their API).

Download at Octro.
To download it directly to your Pocket PC, http://ota.octro.com/ppc/octrotalk.cab
For feedback & support, support@octro.com.
 
 

Chat live with the Yahoo! Messenger Team

Ever wanted to talk directly to the folks responsible for your favorite instant messenger? If that IM program happens to be Yahoo! Messenger, you are in luck. This coming Monday, October 6, 2008 Yahoo staff members will be conducting a live, online workshop to answer your questions about the recently released Yahoo! Messenger 9.0.

The free, online workshop begins at 3pm Pacific time (time zone converter). To join, just visit this link at the appropriate time on Monday.

Be sure to say "hi" from BigBlueBall!
 
 

Yahoo! Pingbox lets you chat with your blog guests

When Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 was released last week, it came loaded with a new user interface and some brand-new capabilities. Among those new features is the Yahoo! Pingbox.

What is Pingbox? Basically it's a chat applet or gadget you can add to your own website, blog or many popular social network profiles (like MySpace). You customize it on the Pingbox creator site, then copy and paste the appropriate code into your site, blog or profile. Guests to your website or profile can chat live with you, when you're signed into Yahoo! Messenger.

One nice added benefit is that your visitors don't even need to have a Yahoo! account -- they can still chat with you as guests.

Here's an example of what the Yahoo! Pingbox looks like. If you catch me online, feel free to give it a try and say hello!


Links

• Download Yahoo! Messenger 9.0
• Create your own Yahoo! Pingbox

 
 

Asterisk & SER based VoIP Billing Software launched by Ascent Telecom

Ascent Telecom has announced launch of it’s “VoIP Billing Software” that is Pre-Integrated with Asterisk & SER Switching & PBX Telephony Platforms. Ascent’s VoIP Billing Software is a Real-Time Rating, Billing & Customer Care Management Solution that is tightly integrated with Asterisk & SER Softswitch & PBX Telephony platforms. Essentially, this makes the whole integrated solution an end-to-end VoIP network platform that lets the Service providers offer a range of VoIP Services at very low cost of ownership.

The whole platform is capable of supporting range of VoIP services – PC to Phone, Device to Phone, Phone to Phone, Calling cards, Callshops, Wholesale Traffic Termination, Traffic Routing, Incoming DID. It boasts-off features & functionalities including, but not limiting to:

1. Real-Time Calculations for all the functionalities
2. 100% Web based
3. Multiple web interfaces for multiple entities like Admin, Agent, Retailer, Customer, Prepaid Account
4. Full Customization & Modular Architecture
5. Fully Automated LCR, Carrier & Routing web interfaces integrated with Asterisk & SER at the backend.
6. Prepaid & Postpaid Capabilities
7. IVR Support for IVR based calling services

In combination with Asterisk & SER, this VoIP Billing Software forms a complete end-to-end VoIP platform that is completely software based. Add-on future services can be integrated by simply integrating the add-on components in to existing network.

The solution is meant for “Service providers” who intend to offer range of Private Labeled VoIP services, in their desired market segment. Service Providers benefits with:

1. Lowest TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) - Asterisk & SER are free and so the only charge that the service providers incur, for setting their VoIP network, is of the VoIP Billing Software. All of these software gets installed on standard Intel based hardware machines.
2. Instant Implementation - All the software components (Asterisk, SER, VoIP Billing, Softphone) are pre-integrated and benchmarked. These software gets installed on standard, readily available, Intel based hardware machines. All of this translates in to instant implementation.
3. Total Support for end-to-end network from single point - All the required support for Asterisk, SER, VoIP Billing and Softphone are provided by Ascent Telecom. We act as a single point of contact for all your network related queries and saves you from hassles of running from pillar to post.
4. Feature Richness - Asterisk is the most feature rich switching platform that you would find. Our VoIP Billing software is an 8 year old proven feature rich piece. It is extremely flexible, modular in architecture. All of this, makes the platform future-proof, whereby existing features make it rich presently and future new requirements can be incorporated easily.
5. Customization / Personalization - Most potent tool that one can have, in a software or set of software, is that it can be customized as per the specific needs of the service provider. Keeping this mind, our offerings are always 100% customizable as per the customer needs.

Please visit ascent telecom

ABOUT ASCENT

Ascent Telecom is a Global provider of VoIP Software Products, Solutions & Services to “Service Providers”. Founded in year 2000, Ascent Telecom has more than 300 customers presence in over 30 countries. Ascent sell it’s offerings either by selling it’s software or by providing an option of Hosted VoIP Softswitch & Billing, to it’s targeted customers (Service Providers). Ascent has full range of VoIP Software, including but not limiting to – SIP Softphone, VoIP Billing & Class 5 SIP Softswitch (SIP Proxy Server & Media Proxy Server). These software collectively, lets the service providers offer a full range of VoIP services to their customers. Please visit us at ascenttelecom.com for further information.

ABOUT ASTERISK

Asterisk is the world’s leading open source telephony engine and tool kit. Asterisk can be configured as the core of an IP or hybrid PBX, switching calls, managing routes, enabling features, and connecting callers with the outside world over IP, analog (POTS), and digital (T1/E1) connections. Asterisk runs on a wide variety of operating systems including Linux, Mac OS X, OpenBSD, FreeBSD and Sun Solaris. Asterisk's architecture is designed for maximum flexibility and supports Voice over IP in many protocols, and can interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware. Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSPs), competitive local exchange carriers (CLECS) and even first-tier incumbents have discovered the power of open source communications with Asterisk. Feature servers, hosted services clusters, voicemail systems, pre-paid calling solutions, all based on Asterisk have helped reduce costs and enabled flexibility.

NOTE: About Asterisk text has been taken from asterisk.org

ABOUT SER (SIP EXPRESS ROUTER)

SIP Express Router (SERi) is a high-performance, configurable, free SIP server licensed under the open-source GNU license . It can act as SIP (RFC 3261) registrar, proxy or redirect server. SER can be configured to serve specialized purposes such as load balancing or SIP front-end to application servers, SEMS for example. Together with the RTPproxy software it can act as media relay or Session Border Controller. SER features complete support of RFC 3261 functionality, a variety of database backends (mysql, oracle, postgres, radius, text-db), management features (remote management via XML-RPC, load-balancing), NATi traversal, telephony features (LCR, speeddial), multidomain hosting, ENUM, presence, and even more.

NOTE: About SER text has been taken from iptel.org
 
 

AEC & Call Monitoring for VoIP

SoliCall released two new features to its personalized noise reduction technology: Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) and Call Monitoring. In addition to improving the quality, the PBXMate – the company’s commercial solution for VoIP/IP PBX systems – can now write statistics of the call. These statistics include information regarding the quality of the call - e.g. jitter, noise leveland delay. The PBXMate works out-of-the-box with any SIP PBX, including Asterisk, Nortel, CISCO etc.



 
 

Digsby update is faster, lighter and more LinkedIn

A new update for Digsby has been released, with support for LinkedIn and a much-improved memory footprint.

The update to the popular multi-network instant messenger and social networking tool was released today, and I'm impressed. I've been a fan of Digsby since it first came out earlier this year. My only complaint has been the memory it uses. It was -- to put it politely -- a bit of a hog. This new beta is the result of several months of code optimization, bug squashing and even a few new features, and the results are great.

To compare, I checked the memory footprint of the last version of Digsby (build 15142) and it was using 92MB of RAM. The new version of Digsby is using only 49MB of RAM -- a significant improvement. This alone is reason to upgrade, or to check it out if you haven't already.

The Digsby update also adds support for the LinkedIn social network for professionals. Of course, Digsby already supported MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

I asked developer Steve Shapiro what was next for Digsby. "We worked hard to optimize the code on this version, making Digsby more efficient and faster. Now we're ready to focus on the Mac and Linux versions."

"We're also ready to begin adding more features, including support for more social networks and group chat," said Shapiro.

There's still no public dates on when we'll see versions for the Mac or Linux, but for Windows users, Digsby is a fantastic product. It's free, with no advertisements, and great connectivity.

The update for this version requires you download from the Digsby site. This is because the update size is bigger than the installer, and there are bugs with the previously released updater component that would cause it to fail.

Check out Digsby:

• Official announcement from the Digsby blog
• Official Digsby website
• Direct download link (15.2 MB; Windows only)