h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Bit of a novice to this so can anyone tell me:

Can messages be sent between different instant message applications, i.e. between AIM and MSN?

Thanks,
spimcoot

I'm pretty sure they can't because they rely on different types of user ID, MSN seems to be incompatable with the otehrs anyway. It's really annoying coz sometimes different friends have different message thingies!

I'm pretty sure they can't because they rely on different types of user ID, MSN seems to be incompatable with the otehrs anyway. It's really annoying coz sometimes different friends have different message thingies!

No they can't.


Incog.

There are a couple of programs that let you chat across different messengers apps, I think one is called Trillian, can't remember any others offhand though.

I've got trillian, it's pretty good, and free at www.download.com
I don't think you can have a conference conversation with people on two different networks, but there's nothing stopping you signing up for an account at msn, ICQ, yahoo and aol and being online on all of them, or telling them to.

Thank you all. I can't download MSN because they don't offer a version that can be run on my current operating system. I can't download Trillian because they don't offer a version for Mac. But I have downloaded AIM successfully and I know someone else who may be doing likewise in the near future.

Thanks again.

There is probably another multi-protocol IM client that works on a Mac, Spimcoot. If you have Mac OS X you can use pretty much any of the ones that run on UNIX as well, but you may not have OS X and it can be a little tricky to set up the UNIX stuff, so that may not be the best option.

I have 10.1 MaW, so I fall between what MSN offers for 8 & 9 or 10.1.3. Useless buggers. So tell me about this other magic portal between worlds.

I assume 10.1 can't be upgraded to 10.1.3 without paying money then

I can upgrade to 10.1.5 free but it takes longer than two hours, at which time my internet connection turns back into a pumpkin. Fear not, have been given some good advice about this over at the Mac users' group.

Ouch, poor Spimcoot. I'm so used to having always-on broadband now I keep forgetting there are lots of people still suffering on dialup.

Yes, they do! *ouch* ouch* *ouch*

Terri.

(perhaps the next generation will be born with a broadband connection instead of an umbilical cord?)

It'd be nice.