Tech Blog

If you’re like me, you’ve probably got several different instant messaging clients installed on your computer at home, such as AIM, MSN, Yahoo, etc. But what happens when you’re away from home using someone else’s computer, a computer at a library or in an internet cafe, or you’re at work and your IT people have blocked downloads? Most IM clients have web-based versions of their software, and usually using those requires you to open up at least one new screen, which can really clutter up the task bar. Now there’s something called Meebo that allows you to sign into multiple IM accounts with just one log-in. And best of all, it doesn’t require you to have 50 new screens open.

Meebo allows you to sign into AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Google, and Jabber instant messaging accounts. If you don’t want to register with Meebo, you can still use their web-based versions, but are limited to signing into only one account at a time. If you take the time to register, and create a Meebo log-in, you’ll be able to add all of your IM accounts to one account and utilize them all with just one log-in.

Signing into your Meebo account brings up just one page, which shows your buddy list on the far right, and other account related info on the left. The buddy list shows all of your contacts from each of the IM services, with an icon next to each screenname indicating what service they are on. Starting a conversation is as easy as double-clicking on a buddy’s name. By starting a conversation, you won’t be getting another pop-up chat box, instead, it will be embedded within the Meebo page you already have up. From here, you can also open up other conversations and spread them out across the screen, or you can minimize them to make more room.

I am really digging this new service, and am very impressed with it so far. It doesn’t seem to have any kind of a lag, and has been very stable for me so far.