[Ewa S]

So, few months back, I made a little guide in this same forum, telling Mac users how to get around with using the Windows Yahoo messenger. But as most of you must be aware, Yahoo announced a week ago that they will be discontinuing support for both the Windows and Mac versions of their messenger starting August 5. That means some pretty dark days for everyone; and even though they promised in the email that Windows and Mac versions will be coming soon; without going into this with detail, I'll just say that I sincerely doubt that.

The WebMessenger is horrible at best; and unusable in most cases. So, I wanted to hear from everyone what they plan on doing starting August 5? I think it will benefit us as a community to decide on something collectively, and move to the same medium together, than end up scattering. So, here are few questions to get the discussion started:

1) Can anyone recommend another instant messaging software in place of Yahoo? And before tossing names, please think about this carefully, and tell us why you think it's a good replacement for Yahoo. (P.S. I don't think Trillian etc are viable replacements, because the Yahoo portions of them won't be usable after the change.)

2) Do you think FCF's is going to be a complete substitute?? I personally think it's in many ways a very good alternative; and it would work much better, if there is a way for the mods to increase the '10 message per hour' to 50 or so.

Think about it folks, we're only 7 weeks away from a major change in our cyber lives ^^

[georgegizmo]

Wow, I had missed the announcement about YIM. The only other messenger I have used in recent time is chatzy, no opinion either way on it.

[Ewa S]

Hey George ^^

I think there is a script on this page that changes all links into FCF's chatroom, so yours got messed up. So please just say the name without a .com or anything ^^

** I hope we're not violating forum rules here, and if we are, apologies to the admins. I'm really keen on keeping this discussion within the boundaries permitted here :-)

[RS3]

Kik, you can send messages, keep contacts, figure out if your message was delivered or sent, she'd pics and do group chats, also gives updates for each message, kik is a good alternative

[Ewa S]

Great, these are two good options for now. But of course, the trick is, to find one that the majority of people would end up migrating to. The main trouble is keeping the Yahoo community intact ^^

[Rebecca P]

Great, these are two good options for now. But of course, the trick is, to find one that the majority of people would end up migrating to. The main trouble is keeping the Yahoo community intact ^^

might not be possible. Just like yahoo 360....another thing they fucked up. some may go, others may not, depends. I REALLY resent forced choices like this though, keep your shitty cloud service but don't fuck with those who still like the old messenger. course it started to go downhill once they got rid of the games a while ago and pictures stopped loading/being able to sent all the time, plus chat conversation issues. but still....

Not trying to be a bitch, but the point of this thread isn't to complain about what we are losing (now, or a while ago).  The point is to try to figure how what we can find as a replacement.  That doesn't mean a replacement that will give us everything we want: that appears to not be an option.  It means 'What can we find that gives us the minimum of what we need to continue to exist as a community.'  FCF is great, but it, in and of itself, does not satisfy everything we need.  Yes, we don't like the options we have.  We all agree on that.  But, given this imperfect world: what do we want to do next?

I wish i knew the answer to that question.  I do not, at least not yet.  I hope we can find an answer together.

[KatieP]

We should all move to do.not.share.copyrighted.content

Instant chat, pic shares, communities, privacy settings, it's like a Facebook kinda vibe.

And has communities with loads, and I mean LOADS of great catfIght videos.

PM me x

[RS3]

VK is a great idea, we can aoe communities like a cyberfight community then make it branch from there like a catfighting community and wrestling, and mixed, and boxing which can help easily categorize people in groups based on their interests

[The BIG E]

What about Google? They do have a messenger where you can send pics and group chat. Can work for people on mobile and on their PC/Mac. Don't know if it has font customisation but I can survive without. Maybe Google could be suitable, with the added G+ as well for communities? Doesn't seem like they are scraping that anytime soon.

But that's just my two cents!

[Ewa S]

Thanks for the response Natty... But here is the thing I'm worried about.... That discontinuing YIM would also mean that that the P2P servers would be taken down. If that happens, Trillian and Pidgin would not work, as they still have to connect to the Yahoo servers to work.

I don't know for sure if that is the case, but I have to say that from what i read, it's highly likely.

What we need is a client with its own IM service; one that does not use your Yahoo credentials to log-in.

[Thai Doll May]

This is the first I've heard of this!!! Why do yahoo have to spoil everything?

I guess until something is arranged I'll just use FCF and chatzy once they pull the plug on YIM.

[marydfights]

In the past pidgin has added a patch for each change/update to yahoo if there was a conflict.

I have been looking at the linux boards to see if there is anything upcoming but haven't seen anything yet. Based on past history I'm guessing that once the change happens Aug 5, the teams will jump all over it and come up with something.

If I hear anything in the meantime I'll pass it on but I think this time it really is over.

[Ewa S]

... but I think this time it really is over.

I kinda have the same feeling :/

[thegreenmile]

I suggest Skype or Trillian.

I suggest Trillian as the first solution if users are permitted to engage in their yahoo accounts through Trillian.

If that is not applicable - then I suggest Skype.

I do not suggest Kik, for it requires users to purchase a smartphone (if they do not currently own one.) Thus, we alienate those who do not desire to spend several hundred dollars on an unnecessary device.

On the other hand, Skype is accessible through computer. Thus, Skype wins.

[Rebecca P]

Seems like the consensus I'm starting to hear is Trillian.  OK then: off to set up a Trillian account.