Internet Relay Chat
The first chat, that was developed, was the so-called Internet Relay Chat, also called "IRC". This chat was already developed in the eighties and became one of the best known chats at all. Also today the "IRC" enjoys greatest popularity. From this time are also the Emoticons see under Chat Slang. The Internet Relay chat had to manage completely without phototelegraphy - For the assignment of emotions were used emoticons mentioned above. The "IRC" needs a chat server of its own, this so-called "IRC Server" is necessary for user, which would like to chat over "IRC" to connect. This connection happens with the help of a so-called "IRC Client" like "Mirc", in turn this client combines with an "IRC Server" in the so-called "IRC Network". By the "IRC Server" the conversations are then made possible between the Chatter. Every "IRC Server" disposes about so-called "IRC Channels", usually over thousand different, these start with a with a rue (#) and a name, for example "# Austria". A channel is a special form of a chatroom (chat room), one usually finds these only in the "IRC". Each of these channel usually has characteristics of their own, of course there are separate rules, like in every other chat too. To be able to take part in the chat, one needs a special chat software (IRC client), as already mentioned above. Nowadays the choice of "IRC-Clients" is very big, an example would be "MIRC".
You can find the download for the IRC Client "MIRC" here (original English web page): http://www.mirc.co.uk/
Instant-Messenger
Is a special chat, which made the Chatting possible with the help of a special software (Instant-Messenger). Both news and files can be exchanged and this is possible in real time and with high speed! Many Instant-Messenger offer also video and telephone conferences, in addition one can chat via webcam. Instant-Messenger also offer the possibility, to establish so-called "Buddy Lists" (contact Lists), through a status-information the user immediately can see who is ready to chat and who not (for example: Status ready, absent etc). These contacts then can be stored also in form of an address book. Instant-Messenger programmes are free of charge and worldwide well known, therefore the number of chat participants is also very large. Every Instant Messenger works with an own messenger protocol, but there are also also so-called Multi Messenger, which unite several protocols (so-called multi protocol clients). Well-known Instant-Messenger are: ICQ (I seek you), AOL Instant-Messenger (AIM), MSN-Messenger (Messenger from MSN) and Yahoo! Messenger.
Multi-Messenger
A Multi-Messenger is a special chat-software, which supports several Instant Messenger protocols. So if you would like to use several different Instant Messenger, it is esentially more practical if you get yourself a Multi-Messenger, which has already integrated these messenger. Well-known Multi Messenger are: Trillian (a real all-rounder), Gaim (made by Mark Spencer), Adium (for Mac OS), Kopete (a free Instant-Messenger) and Miranda (Multi Protocol Client).
Web Chat
A Web-Chat or Browser-Chat is a chat system, with such a program messages can be exchanged via www with the help of a Web-Browser. Apart from a Web Browser, Web-Chats do not make technically special demands to the user. Therefore Web Chats can also be used by technically less experienced people. The Webchat is the most frequently found chat form on the Internet.
Video Chat
The Video-Chat or the video conference is an audio-visual chat form, by which picture and sound are being transferred. The technical means which are needed for it, is a camera (for example a webcam), microphone, monitor and loudspeaker. A webcam-chat is a video chat, which uses a webcam for the phototelegraphy.
3D Chat
A 3D Chat (or also graphic-chat) is a chat, which has chatrooms (rooms in which the chatter are located), that are represented three-dimensionally. The Chatter themselves are represented by so-called "Avatars" (Avatar = an artificial person or a graphic representative of a real person in the virtual world). This chat-form was developed not until in the nineties and should replace the "normal" text-chat, what has not happened until today.