Yahoo! Messenger

Popular programs in Instant Messaging

What is Yahoo! Messenger

Yahoo! Messenger has been a popular instant messaging program option for many years now. Now in its 11th version, Yahoo! Messenger is still a strong option if you're looking for a way to chat with your friends online in real time.

Recently updated to keep up with the Facebook trend, Yahoo! Messenger is now fully compatible with this popular social media website. In the past, you were only able to chat with your Yahoo! friends; now, you can chat with your Yahoo! friends or your Facebook friends. This messaging program even makes it easy for you to update your Facebook status without ever heading over to the Facebook website.

Yahoo! Messenger has a lot of bells and whistles, which some people enjoy and others find to be a bit too obnoxious. You can use tons of emoticons to let your friends know exactly how you're feeling, and you can easily access radio stations, enjoy shared videos, play your favorite Facebook and Yahoo! games and so much more. This messaging program also comes packed with a video call option, which is of a surprisingly high quality and is actually highly competitive with other video calling applications out there.

Integration with Facebook isn't the only improvement that Yahoo! Messenger has made. Unlike its older versions, it now offers tabbed instant messaging, which can make it easier to keep up with all of your conversations and can help you keep your screen more organized. Quick access to all of your favorite emoticons, improved spam management and an improved and easier access to your most recent contacts all make this platform an improvement over previous versions.

If you're looking for a way to interact on social media, chat with all of your friends and have easy access to tons of bells and whistles, Yahoo! Messenger is your No. 1 choice. For those who prefer a simpler chatting software, however, other chat applications might be a better option.

Pros

• Yahoo! Messenger is now fully integrated with Facebook. You can use it to chat with Facebook friends, update your Facebook status and play your favorite Facebook games.
• Yahoo! is a name that you know and trust.
• There are some great privacy settings to help you feel safe and secure when chatting online.
• This messaging program is highly customizable, so you can tweak it to suit your needs.
• The video quality is surprisingly good and is competitive against some video chat-only programs.

Cons

• Advertising is present and can be overwhelming.
• Some people find that the bells and whistles are a bit too "much."
• The installation process is a bit longer than it should be.