A Multi-Messenger is a software, which supports more Instant-Messaging protocols. Multi-Messenger offer the possibility of using different Instant-Messaging protocols with one single programme. Some functions like Voice-Chat, Avatars and the "Sending, Receiving" of files are not always supported completely. A further disadvantage is, that at a change of a certain protocol, up to the update of the Multi Messenger there is often no connection possible to the network of the concerned protocol. Known Multi Messenger are: Trillian (for windows), Adium (for Mac OS X), Gaim (by Mark Spencer - Unix, Linux, BSD, Windows), Miranda IM (Windows), Kopete (free Instant-Messenger, derived from the word "Copete" = alcoholic drinks), iChat (Software of the computer manufacturer Apple, Mac OS X).
Trillian
Trillian is a Multi-Messenger for Windows, which supports different protocols. The current free version supports the networks ICQ, AIM, MSN-Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and IRC. One has the possibility to communicate via text and via audio chat. There is also a version with costs, namely the Trillian Pro, this supports the protocols Novell GroupWise Messenger, Bonjour, Jabber and Skype, in addition, one has the possibility of using video chats! The name "Trillian" comes from the main character from the book "to hitch-hike through the galaxy" from Douglas Adams.
The download for the Multi-Messenger "Trillian" you can find here: http://www.trillian-deutsch.de/
Here you can also find the download of the "Trillian Pro" (original English web page): http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/
Adium
Adium is an open source (To see into the source text of a programme) Multi Messenger for the operating system Mac OS X. The project was started by Adam Iser and is for the most part error-free and therefore fully usable. Adium can completely be adapted to the wishes of one's own and is expandable also for "Apple". A special function of Adium is the so-called "Tabbed Chatting", with an open window and by the use of "Tabs" you can chat with several users simultaneously! Adium supports the networks: AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise, ICQ, Jabber, MSN Messenger, Lotus Sametime, Yahoo! Messenger and Zephyr.
The download for the Multi-Messenger Adium you can find here (original English webpage): http://www.adiumx.com/
Gaim
Gaim is a Multi-Messenger which was originally written for UNIX, Linux and BSD - however, now there is Gaim available for windows too. Gaim can in addition still be expanded with many plugins (add-on modules). The plugins are those which allow Gaim to use different Messenger services for one and the same programme. The respective protocol is at least partly supported. Besides the official plugins there are also extra plugins to make Gaim also compatible for other networks. Gaim supports the following protocols: AOL Instant-Messenger, Novell Groupwise, ICQ, Jabber /Google Talk, IRC, Lotus Sametime, MSN Messenger, OpenNap, SILC, Simple, Xfire, Yahoo! Messenger and Zephyr. With the help of extra plugins the performance range still can be strongly enlarged by Gaim for example.: Extended possibilities of the notification and encoding of messages. For Windows there is also a so-called "Portable Gaim" version available, this version can be started for example from an USB flash drive.
The download for the Multi-Messenger Gaim you can find here (original English webpage): http://gaim.sourceforge.net/
Miranda IM
Miranda IM is a Multi Messenger for the operating systems Windows NT4, 95, 98, Me, 2000 and XP. Miranda is an open source client and is different from other Multi-Messenger mainly because of it's low resource need. Miranda supports the following protocols: ICQ, AIM, Windows Live-Messenger, Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger, IRC, Gadu-Gadu and more. In addition, Miranda is expandable by many Plugins, there is also a support for the skype protocol which is made possible by an adequate plugin. For this one must have the original Skype programme installed parallel and it has to run at the same time. Miranda is kept simple after the installation and offers only ordinary functions like "Sending of messages" or "Adding contacts to the contact list". After that, however, numberless plugins can be installed, changing Miranda externally and enlarging it's functionality. For example photos of friends and details of them can be displayed over a mouseover information field or in the message window. Another plugin makes ICQ user possible, which are in the status "invisible" to recognize them and make them "visible" in Miranda. Additionally Miranda is expandable in a variety of languages! Since Wine 0.9. x Miranda also is at Linux users' disposal, in addition, Miranda supports the encryption of messages and in an ICQ chat. In the past, the project name was Miranda-ICQ, however Miranda supports also additional protocols besides ICQ so in 2003 the name was changed in Miranda IM.
The download for the Multi-Messenger "Miranda IM" you can find here: http://miranda-im.de/
Kopete
Kopete is a free Messenger and the name is derived from the chilean word "Copete", what as much as "Alcoholic drinks" indicates. Kopete supports the following protocols: Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, ICQ, Msn Messenger, IRC, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise, Meanwhile and SMS. For newer Kopete versions there is the possibility of using webcams. Kopete was written for the operating systems Linux and Unix.
The download for the Multi-Messenger "Kopete" you can find here (original English website): http://kopete.kde.org/
iChat
iChat or iChat AV is a chat software of "Apple", which makes the exchange of text, audio and video-messages possible. To use iChat over the Internet the user needs next to the software a .Mac or AIM account and of course the Mac OS X operating system. Since the possibility of a video connection "Apple" names the programme iChat AV. IChat supports the following protocols: Oscar (AIM, ICQ and .Mac), Jabber and UPnP (automatically transferring of ports and picking out the Ip address of an Internet Gateway Device). IChat was written for the operating system Mac OSX and was developed by "Apple". Recently there is no more video-chat possible!
The download for the Multi-Messenger "iChat" you can find here: http://www.apple.com/de/macosx/features/ichat/