IM or Instant Messaging (usually referred as IMP or Instant Messaging and Presence) is a type of application for chat and presence – most popularly on proprietary networks such as MSN Messenger (now called Windows Live Messenger), YahooI Messenger, AIM, Gadu-Gadu, QQ or ICQ.
One of the most popular open source IM platforms is Jabber (also known as XMPP), this is used by Google Talk, Gizmo Project and WengoPone (OpenWengo) and is widely deployed for intranet instant messaging.
Despite the fact that most IM is conducted over proprietary networks owned by Yahoo!, Microsoft or AOL/Time Warner and others, open source clients for these networks exist, most popularly Psi, Gajim and Spark for Jabber/XMPP or Kopete and Gaim for multi-protocol IM (or Adium for OSX which uses libgaim).
In addition to the CNET award that Adium was nominated for, I was also contacted by about.com’s IM guru to tell us that they were now accepting nominations for the 2008 IM Best Awards.
He writes:
One of the most frequently asked questions I get as guide to Instant Messaging at About.com just so happens to be “Which Instant Messenger is the Best?”
Well, this year, I have decided to allow the readers to answer for themselves through our 2008 IM Best Awards, delivering top honors to all our favorite instant messengers, new developments and the developers themselves.
Now through noon EST, on Friday, March 28, 2008, we are accepting nominations for this honor in all the following categories:
*Best Instant Messenger Experience, measuring overall user experience;
*Most Improved Instant Messenger, based on back-to-back client releases;
*Best Mac Instant Messenger, based on overall user experience;
*Best Third-Party IM
*Best IM Feature
*and Best IM Developer(s) of the Year.Winners in each category will be given featured Essentials placement for one year on http://im.about.com, in addition to all the bragging rights among the IM community.
If you’d like to show us some love drop Brandon an email and tell him what you think!
The nominations are in for About.com’s IM Best awards and your favorite green duck has managed to snag a spot in 3 different categories.
We are nominated for:
-Best Mac Instant Messenger (Yahoo is currently in the lead…)
-Best Third-Party IM
-Best IM Developer(s) of the Year
Be sure to head on over to IM Best Awards 2008 to cast your vote. Voting ends at Noon EST on Saturday April 19th.


One of the most frequently asked questions I get as guide to Instant Messaging at About.com just so happens to be "Which Instant Messenger is the Best?"
Well, this year, I have decided to allow the readers to answer for themselves through our 2008 IM Best Awards, delivering top honors to all our favorite instant messengers, new developments and the developers themselves.
Now through noon EST, on Friday, March 28, 2008, we are accepting nominations for this honor in all the following categories:
*Best Instant Messenger Experience, measuring overall user experience;
*Most Improved Instant Messenger, based on back-to-back client releases;
*Best Mac Instant Messenger, based on overall user experience;
*Best Third-Party IM
*Best IM Feature
*and Best IM Developer(s) of the Year.
Winners in each category will be given featured Essentials placement for one year on http://im.about.com, in addition to all the bragging rights among the IM community.
