Instant Messaging

116. AIM 7 (beta 2)
http://products.aim.com/
Windows | Mac | Web | Mobile
AOL Instant Messenger, as AIM was once known, still has the biggest IM network and the easiest to access from multiple places and services—a network used by most of the other tools in this section. Using the actual AIM software, however, can get you a few extras, like easy ability to send IM as SMS texts, but mostly it's all about staying in touch with friends and family, no matter what computer or handheld (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile) you use. The new LifeStream feature makes sure the desktop software captures your social networking, as well.
• Read PCMag's review of AIM 7 (Beta 2).

117. Dig*****y
http://www.dig*****y.com
Windows | Mac | Linux
This multi-protocol IM client is one we once loved, and still like (see the review for particulars) It's especially noteworthy because it was among the first to deeply integrate social networking with IMs by including access to updates from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and MySpace. It even includes e-mail, such as Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo! Mail, as well as POP3 and IMAP accounts. It's nicely customizable in appearance, too.
• Read PCMag's review of Dig*****y.

118. KoolIM
http://www.koolim.com/
Web
Like Meebo, this is a fast way to access individual instant message accounts without installing software. The interface is not as polished as some of the competition, and I'm not familiar with some of the providers KoolIM supports (Gadu-Gadu?). But for fast access to AIM and others, it does the trick.
NOTE: Our Polish speaking readers will likely know that the word gadu-gadu the word is Polish for "chit-chat," and that Gadu-Gadu the app is Poland's most popular IM service, with 6.5 million daily users (according to Wikipedia). Give it a try!

119. Meebo
http://www.meebo.com
Web | Mobile
Tops in the Web-based IM trade, Meebo gives you one account that lets you instantly sign into your individual instant-messaging clients with AIM, Yahoo, Google, Windows Live, and Facebook and use them all in a single interface. It keeps a tran of conversations for future reference. Being Web-based keeps it light, and new features appear automatically, too. Mostly, however, it's just a fast way to instant message with friends on the most popular networks without installing a bunch of unneeded programs. And the iPhone app? It's priceless, despite being free.
• Read PCMag's review of Meebo.

120. Miranda 0.8.18
http://www.miranda-im.org/
Windows | Portable
Miranda is all about speed. This app has a tiny (1.6MB) install, loads fast, and supports instant messaging via AIM, Yahoo, MSN, and others (including old favorite Gadu-Gadu)—some by way of plug-ins. In fact, Miranda has over 350 plug-ins for everything from securing connections to saving instant messaging history.

121. Pidgin 2.6.6
http://www.pidgin.im
Windows | Linux | Portable
Open-source Pidgin gives you single interface access to multiple IM protocols both well known (AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, MSN, Yahoo) and not-so-well-known (hello, Gadu-Gadu!). Pidgin has plug-ins for some others services (Facebook) and features, like advanced security and interface tweaks. Being open source, it's also probably available in more languages than any other multi-instant messaging tool.
(The Mac equivalent goes by the name Adium.)

122. Trillian Astra
http://www.trillian.im/
Windows | Mac | Web | Mobile
PCMag's Editors' Choice for multiservice IMs is an old favorite reborn with an improved interface and support for social networking status updates. It's got a Web-based interface you can access for free (thereby taking on Meebo), and an iPhone app (though that, strangely, isn't free).