Instant Messanging

Paltalk is an internet chat service for text, voice and video chatting. The Paltalk Messenger program is in a free, banner-supported format. It has an ad-free version that requires users to subscribe. Paltalk is only available to users of Microsoft Windows. The program now identifies itself as PaltalkScene, a change that was made in September 2007.It also owns and operates HearMe, a video and voice-enabled web conferencing service that allows users to conduct group meetings. Paltalk became popular after Firetalk, an earlier voice/music chat program, became unable to maintain operation due to a lack of adequate funding.

Reaction: This is not open to user who want to subscribe on this. It gives users the ability of audio chat, publishing videos, viewing as many cams as they may like with a stream rate up to 15fps, transferring files, and adding up to 999 members in their Pal List. Members with Extreme subscriptions can join up to 3 voice rooms simultaneously and have the option to enable/disable banner ads.

Skype (IPA: [skaɪp]) is software that allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and to free-of-charge numbers are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing. Skype has experienced rapid growth in popular usage since the launch of its services. The company was acquired by eBay in September 2005 for $2.6 billion.

Reaction:SkypeIn allows Skype users to receive calls on their computers dialed by regular phone subscribers to a local Skype phone number.Skype incorporates some features which tend to hide its traffic, but it is not specifically designed to thwart traffic analysis and therefore does not provide anonymous communication.



IBM Lotus Sametime is an enterprise instant messaging and web conferencing application sold by the Lotus Software division of IBM. Lotus Sametime provides enterprise instant messaging functionality, presence information, and web conferencing. It uses a proprietary protocol named Virtual Places (VP), but also offers support for standard protocols, including Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), SIMPLE, T.120, XMPP, and H.323. Lotus Sametime also integrates with Lotus Notes and Microsoft Office.^[1] The consulting company Frost & Sullivan named IBM Lotus Sametime as the 2008 North American Enterprise Product of the Year.

Reaction:The Lotus Sametime server runs on Microsoft Windows, IBM AIX, i5/OS, Linux and Solaris. Lotus Sametime software is included in the "Open Referent" systems sold in Eastern Europe and Russia by Vienna-based VDEL and Poland-based LX Polska that are "Microsoft-free".