Instant messaging program. The best programs for communicating on the Internet
What is a network communication program? This chat(from the English “Chat”, conversation) or messenger(a program that sends messages).
Modern chats and instant messengers can not only send messages, but also exchange pictures and files, make audio and video calls.
Some programs definitely need the Internet to work, some do not, they work using their own server that runs within your company. This is of course much safer.
Let's talk about one of these programs. What can it be used for and how.
First, a short video to briefly explain why this program is needed:
And now in more detail:
1. For messaging
Despite the obviousness, it is worth noting that messages must be encrypted, and not with some home-made algorithm, but with a serious, open library, . Message history should be stored on your own server within the company, and not somewhere on the Internet. And finally, for the program to work there must be a .
MyChat is fine with this, so let’s move on.
Here the developers of the MyChat intranet messenger took an interesting path; they did not reinvent the wheel and use the WebRTC engine, the most advanced calling technology in the world at the moment. You can make calls not only between MyChat client programs, but also between the program and WEB chat, which works in the Chrome, FireFox, Opera or Edge browser. All modern browsers already support WebRTC technology.
Calls, of course, are unlimited, no one needs to pay for them, communication goes through existing communication channels or over a local/corporate network.
MyChat voice compression chat works with the Opus codec. Its algorithms operate with low latency, from 2.5 to 60 milliseconds, support variable bitrate, compress audio data very well, better and higher quality than MP3, Vorbis, AAC LC, AMR-WB and Speex.
In non-technical terms, you can call MyChat even through mobile GPRS connections, and these are really very low speeds.
It is very important that this all works automatically; the administrator does not need to understand the black magic of codecs, sound levels, bitrates, noise reduction, equipment settings and other things. Anyone who has configured Jabber servers and a zoo of clients for them, all with their own nuances and incompatibilities, will understand me.
3. For group communication
Popular programs like Skype or Mail.ru Agent, but using retro software like IRC in a modern office is simply not serious due to the complexity of the settings, weak capabilities and the halt in the development of IRC protocols (its last RFC dates back to April 2000).
In MyChat, text conferences (they are also called channels) have been around since the very beginning of the messenger, since 2004, and have been developing all this time. Published in September 2016. Just by this indicator you can understand how seriously the developers develop and support it.
Conferences can be attended by any number of people at the same time (there are real examples of several hundred people working comfortably). You can lock them with a password to separate groups of users into different projects or departments. You can prohibit leaving important conferences, then users simply cannot leave them, accidentally or intentionally. The conferences look pretty nice:
There are even special blocks and punishments (kicks and bans, old school will appreciate it :), as well. You can create as many conferences as you like on the messenger server and include the necessary people there automatically, fortunately, the WEB admin can do this:
4. Communication on a local network without the Internet
There’s probably no point in engaging in preventive intimidation that, they say, you can’t use ICQ, Skype and hangouts in a corporate event, because their servers are located overseas and your messages are stored there, filtered and read by who knows who (for those interested, I recommend the article “”, everything is laid out there “on the shelves”).
Adequate company managers and system administrators, not to mention computer security specialists, understand this very well.
However, you cannot simply take and throw away an already familiar program. If you are looking for something to replace, then you need to choose software that will at least be no worse in functionality in order to transfer employees to it without unnecessary losses.
The interesting thing is that many people initially started using . Here the developers have an interesting, original approach: they abandoned the classic trial version for 30 days, the program is free immediately after installation, limited only by the number of online connections. But 20 people online is really enough for tests - that’s for sure, not to mention the real work of small companies.
There is a good introductory article on how to launch the MyChat messenger in your company and “tie” employees into a single network, especially if there are geographically scattered offices: “”.
In general, the messenger has even more than it needs. You will most likely have the task of which services should simply be prohibited so that users’ eyes do not run wild :) The plus is that this is all done through a convenient structure in the admin panel, it is called “Rights Groups”, all changes are applied instantly and the user interface applications immediately displays this:
Roughly speaking, graphic emoticons were banned - users immediately even lost the icon for calling emoticons. Video calls have been turned off - the video call buttons have disappeared from the toolbar. Instantly. Without restarting the application. You cannot use conferences, but only one-on-one communication in private - the program is instantly transformed.
An interesting approach, and very visual, it’s worth trying - you get used to it so much that you wonder how you could have worked without all this before?
5. Program for communication in the office, how it works
Office messengers usually have their own set of requirements, in addition to a convenient interface, preferably one as similar as possible to MS Office. Because everyone is already accustomed to it, you don’t have to spend a lot of time telling users many times what and how.
Getting people used to certain programs and switching to others is a difficult process, but that’s not all.
Since we are choosing a messenger for the office, this is not for you to exchange cats on social networks. This is a really working tool. And here MyChat shows itself in full force, it is clear that the emphasis during its development was placed precisely on the work of companies.
Firstly, it works Active Directory integration. Users are pulled in from the domain, via LDAP, with all their names, phone numbers, emails and God knows what already entered + transparent NTLM authorization works. MSI package for deployment via GPO. In the official information.
Secondly, There is . To be honest, it is difficult to find a company that does not use this accounting program in our vast expanses. So, you can easily “connect” an already working 1C with a corporate chat, this was recently written about on Infostart in the article “1C: Enterprise + corporate chat, how to set up prompt notifications in 10 minutes”, I recommend reading.
Thirdly, MyChat has a fairly powerful file server built into it. Both the native MyChat Client and any FTP client can connect to it. For example, I prefer FAR and Total Commander; my employees prefer FileZilla. Everything works. The convenience is that this server works “out of the box”, each user who is in the chat is automatically created an account on the file server + there is general, public access. It, of course, does not live up to specialized servers, but, frankly, even its capabilities are sufficient in most cases.
Fourthly, Kanban board for project management. If you recognize from the picture the large whiteboard that hangs in many offices, you will understand me. This is the same board, only in electronic version.
You can create any number of projects, assign stages and performers, and monitor deadlines. Move tasks between stages, comment on them, supplement them, apply search filters, and the like. In general, “see the project” as a whole. Super thing, will be useful in almost any company. It looks like this in operation (works in a browser, by the way):
It’s convenient to use on a desktop; of course, it’s not the same on a tablet or phone, but over time, I think the situation will get better, given that new versions are released on average every month or two.
6. Sending messages and files offline
Sending messages and entire folders with files to users who are currently disconnected from the server (offline) has always been the strength of MyChat. Unlike Skype, where offline messages are received mysteriously, as if by a pike, everything is usually clear in MyChat.
Messages are saved on the server for an unlimited time, files and entire folders can be sent and not worry that they will not arrive.
By the way, there is no way to send large folders with files by email. Even if you archive them, the size of the letter will be one and a half times larger than the archive itself. And there are no guarantees whether the letter reached the recipient or not. There are no such problems in the MyChat messenger.
At any time you can go to the message history, select the interlocutor, date range - and calmly read the correspondence history:
In light of the fact that Gmail, for example, refuses to accept executable files as attachments, and sometimes simply ignores archives with a password (of course, he cares about my security, yeah), sending messages and files in a corporate office chat will be a good help.
As one of the users said well, "".
To summarize everything that has been written, it is worth saying that the program is actively developing, despite its considerable age. , there are several tens of thousands of messages on it and the developers promptly respond even to those who use the free version of the program.
Programs for convenient online communication with your software.
↓ New in the "Network Communication" category:
Free
Net Speakerphone 4.8 build 090508 is a client that allows you to exchange messages on a local network. The Net Speakerphone application allows you not just to send messages to users, but to use your computer as a network phone.
Free 
Network Assistant 4.5 build 2668 is an application for communication and effective interaction using a local network, which does not require a dedicated server.
Free 
BORGChat 1.0.0 build 438 is a chat client that works for free on a local network.
Free 
LAN: Looking Any Network 2.75 is an application that, despite its ease of use, is quite functional. The LAN: Looking Any Network application will be useful for any type and category of users to be able to control and check a local or Internet network.
Free 
CommFort 5.40 is a multifunctional and quite convenient client-server chat, which is designed to work on a local network and combines not only text and voice chat, but also a tool for quickly transferring individual files or folders with files.
Free 
LanSend 1.3.0.27 is a convenient application that will help you send messages to other computers on the network. The LanSend application can send messages using a specific user or an arbitrary group of recipients as the recipient.
Free 
Intranet Chat 1.21b6 is a high-quality and quite convenient program for communication. The Intranet Chat program will allow you to communicate via correspondence not only on the local network, but also on the Internet.
Free 
Vypress Chat 2.1.9 is an application that acts as a text chat running on a local network. The Vypress Chat application can work between two computers or support more than a dozen.
Free 
VideoPort VideoPhone 5.5.6 is an application for video communication using the Internet or local network. The VideoPort VideoPhone application also has the ability to use noise reduction, face detection, automatically detects channel width and has other features that will ensure high quality video even with a weak channel.
Free 
Mixero 0.57 is a convenient, functional and powerful Twitter client. The Mixero application is equipped with tools such as Contexts, Activity Sheet and Filters, which allow you to organize and filter your Twitter feed, filtering out unnecessary information.
free
Mibew Messenger 1.6.4 is a free-source application that provides convenient and fast online consultation. Using the application, it is possible to add a button to the site with direct communication with your operator, and all communication will take place directly in the browser. The application allows you to communicate with a large number of operators at the same time and the choice of operator for communication occurs with manual switching.
The most popular instant messenger in the world from former employees of Yahoo!, with more than 450 million user base, and the main enemy of mobile operators, because of which all reasonable owners of phones and smartphones will soon completely forget about SMS. Since 2009, it has successfully helped its users send text messages, as well as videos, pictures and audio. At the same time, WhatsApp developers, unlike their competitors, focused specifically on messages, abandoning support for audio and video calls, which gave them the opportunity to bring their functionality to almost perfection. However, after the recent purchase of WhatsApp by Zuckerberg, it became known that voice calls may appear in the application.
iPhone owners can talk about iMessage as much as they want, which allows you to send messages and any files no less painlessly on your budget, but everyone has plenty of friends who use Android and other platforms.
Free basic features
Synchronization
with phone book
Stickers
PROS
CONS
The application can be used for free only for the first year, after which you will have to pay $0.99. Although those who bought the app a long time ago at the price of $0.99 have now received a lifetime subscription.
iPad is not supported.
You cannot make calls over the Internet via WhatsApp - all calls are made exclusively through your mobile operator.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook recently bought WhatsApp for $19 billion, but Zuckerberg continues to slowly develop his messenger. Having gotten rid of an annoying competitor, which in just a few years had easily captured the Eastern and South American audience, he gained time to further improve his application. But, in our opinion, Facebook Messenger is already pretty good, and its only drawback is that it focuses exclusively on Facebook users. Until Zuckerberg resolves this issue, the application is closed to the big world of messengers.
FREE CORE FEATURES
NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONE BOOK
GREAT PROBABILITY OF FINDING YOUR FRIENDS
OPPORTUNITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES
STICKERS
PROS
Synced well with Facebook - when you receive a message, you'll be taken to Messenger, but can also be taken back to your Facebook feed. But if all this were combined in one application, it would be much more convenient.
The stickers here are extremely varied. Actually, just exchanging these funny emojis can be done endlessly.
Minimalist functionality - it's just a messenger, nothing extra.
CONS
The main disadvantage of the messenger is that it is only available to Facebook users. This is actually a plus, but it automatically removes it from the list of universal messengers available to absolutely everyone.
Line
A Japanese messenger with a standard set of functions for sending messages and files, which is also a gaming platform and a mini-social network. In addition to, in fact, the basic functionality of a regular messenger, Line allows users to share their statuses and comment on others’ - in general, do the same thing as in other social networks. A long time ago, the main difference of this application were funny stickers with funny cartoons, which became one of the founders of the emoji fashion, but now this will not surprise anyone.
FREE CORE FEATURES
NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONE BOOK
GREAT PROBABILITY OF FINDING YOUR FRIENDS
OPPORTUNITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES
STICKERS
PROS
The main difference of this application is its funny stickers, reminiscent of emoticons from Facebook and, in fact, significantly inferior to them.
A large list of games that you can play with your chat partner. But who actually plays them is not clear.
Line supports official celebrity accounts, although there are not very many of them so far - we were only able to find Katy Perry and Paul McCartney.
CONS
Even if you synchronize with your phone book, you will see a pathetic list of three friends in the application.
Most of the stickers and other additional pleasures are paid separately - 66 rubles apiece.
Viber
The second most popular instant messenger after WhatsApp, it differs only in the presence of audio calls, a smaller user base and a less sophisticated design. In the end, if you like to communicate through instant messengers and focus your choice primarily on your friends, then Viber should definitely appear on your phone: it is used by that part of your friends who have ignored WhatsApp.
FREE CORE FEATURES
NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONE BOOK
GREAT PROBABILITY OF FINDING YOUR FRIENDS
OPPORTUNITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES
STICKERS
PROS
With Viber you can call even those users who do not have it installed. This service is called Viber Out and costs money - prices can be found in Viber itself. Considering the Internet fee, this will not cost you much less than regular calls.
CONS
Due to its Israeli origins, Viber is suspected by Egyptian and Lebanese authorities of supporting Zionist spies. Therefore, before traveling to Lebanon, it is better to install another messenger for insurance.
Telegram
The youngest, but at the same time one of the most promising representatives of the messenger family, created in 2013 by Pavel Durov’s company Digital Fortress. On the very first day of the launch, the entire Internet accused the creators of 100% plagiarism of WhatsApp (they even have similar dialogue backgrounds!) and many other errors, and at the same time once again reminded Durov of the similarities between VKontakte and Facebook. Meanwhile, this messenger has a number of undeniable advantages such as high loading speed of everything, good information security and other pleasant little things. According to Durov, Telegram, as we see it now, is just an intermediate product, which after proper testing can become completely different, and the visual similarity with its older brother is just a starting point. At the same time, the lack of a Russian interface, which all schoolchildren continue to complain about, clearly hints at grandiose plans to capture the world market.
FREE CORE FEATURES
NO ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
SYNCHRONIZATION
WITH PHONE BOOK
GREAT PROBABILITY OF FINDING YOUR FRIENDS
OPPORTUNITY TO SEND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILES
STICKERS
PROS
Instead of the usual stickers for competitors, there is a search for images throughout the Internet, that is, instead of a paid image with a dancing walrus from a limited set of the application, you can attach to a message a photo of absolutely any walrus from the Internet, or even a hippopotamus.
Integration with VKontakte is completely absent, and this is a plus, at least because even if VKontakte is closed or Durov himself finally leaves there, the messenger will remain afloat.
To the delight of Android fans, Durov perceives this platform as the main one for this application.
CONS
Unfortunately for iOS fans, Durov sees Android as the main platform for this application.
Snapchat
The messenger of the future with self-destructing information and simply an ideal communication application that erases all your messages a maximum of ten seconds after reading. The most interesting thing is that each text must be accompanied by a photo or video taken in real time. With these unusual and uncomfortable rules, Snapchat most closely resembles real interaction between people, and not the pre-prepared monologues that we are accustomed to when corresponding on social networks and other instant messengers. After all, everything you say in a normal conversation is not recorded on the hard drive and after a while disappears forever. To experience these unprecedented sensations, you just need to register, take a photo, put some simple text on top, set the destruction timer from one to ten seconds and send the resulting message to one of your friends.
FREE CORE FEATURES
It would seem that choosing such a program is not a problem. But when it comes to adding a dozen new interlocutors to a conference, sharing the screen, recording a conversation or streaming on YouTube, it becomes clear that one or another function is missing. How not to make a mistake when installing a program for video calls from a computer, read our article.
Questions:
How to make free calls over the Internet?
How to send messages over the Internet?
How to register on Skype for the first time?
Other questions about communicating via the Internet
According to the results of our research by a wide margin Two applications are in the lead. Hangouts has the most universal functionality, but in terms of communication quality and ease of use - which is probably the most important thing - it is somewhat inferior to Skype.
In addition, the prevalence of programs must be taken into account. So, despite all its advancement, Hangouts has not yet been able to become the most used video calling application. In our opinion, the main reason for this is the focus on the web interface and, as a result, inconvenient management. In this regard, Skype definitely wins.
According to the authors, for full-fledged video communication at a distance using Skype, a PC with a dual-core processor and an Internet connection no slower than 512 kbps is enough. We also add that the developers from Microsoft decided to integrate the Skype application into Windows 10. And if everything suits you, you won’t have to look for alternatives.
Google Hangouts has replaced Google Talk. Windows users can use the web version of the application, available as an extension for common applications, or simply log into their GMail account in the Google Chrome browser.
If you have a Google account, working with this software is easier. You can start a call directly from Gmail or Google Plus. In Hangouts, you can create a group video conference for ten interlocutors, share the screen, chat, and take notes without minimizing the communication window. Plus, with Hangouts you can stream live content directly to YouTube. In general, there are so many functions that at first you even get a little confused.
Personally, our impression was also spoiled by the fact that establishing a connection from an application on a mobile platform to a user working with Hangouts in a browser is very problematic. Simply because the person may have another tab open and will not notice your call.
ooVoo is a popular free program for video calling from a computer. When compared with Skype, there are no fundamental differences in the level of communication. At the same time, this client program provides free group video chat in which up to 12 users can participate.
As for voice calls, a maximum of three people can communicate in this mode for free (you can connect up to six people, but for a fee). The Video Call Recording feature allows you to record a telephone or video conversation for free.
ooVoo is also actively expanding to tablets and smartphones. The ability to switch between interlocutors is also provided. The only drawback of the application is that it is not promoted. To be honest, when testing, we personally liked the “picture” quality in ooVoo the most.
The program has become incredibly popular over the past few years. Millions of fans of comfortable online communication have managed to download Viber to their computers, although the majority of the application’s 450 million audience are mobile device users. The desktop version is often installed for video calls to acquaintances and friends who find themselves with a tablet or smartphone somewhere in nature or abroad.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to create a video conference in Viber. But during one-on-one video communication, you will not notice any “slowdowns”. Of course, provided that the Internet connection speed is good.
This messenger with support for video calls has gained great popularity in Asia and the USA. And recently, European users began to actively install it. And there is a reasonable explanation for this.
The application attracts with its minimalist interface and some options typical for social networks. So, you can view friends’ feeds, comment on photos and rate statuses. In addition, the program developers implemented the exchange of files of different formats. You can do this during a video session, as well as exchange messages.
Once launched, you will be able to import contacts from your mobile device and call anyone who also has LINE installed. It is noteworthy that the video call is available for recording, but there is a limit of no more than ten seconds.
In the latest version of ICQ, the developers have made a number of improvements in the quality of voice and video calls. The new engine on which the popular messenger runs will allow you to communicate in full screen mode, while VGA 640x480 resolution will be provided during video calls. But group video conferences on ICQ are not available.
To make a voice call, just one click is enough. But we can only talk for free with a user who also has an ICQ client installed. To make a call to a landline or mobile phone, you need to deposit money into a virtual account. As a rule, regular calls via ICQ occur without delays or interruptions.
Tango was designed primarily for mobile devices as a calling app for tablets, allowing users to call each other for free while connected to the Internet. The company thought about PC users only after releasing versions for Android and iOS.
It's easy to synchronize contacts from your phone with your computer - you just need to enter your phone number or email address. All that Tango for PC requires is Windows OS and a network connection with a speed of at least 4 Mbps. And, of course, a web camera and a headset (or speakers). One cannot help but be pleased with the fact that to launch Tango you do not need to create an account and log in.
This software will fit perfectly on most modern smartphones and communicators with front cameras. But on a PC you may be somewhat disappointed by the image quality during a video call.
How to improve the quality of communication?
During video calls, you may experience stuttering and stuttering. The reason for this is often not the speed of the Internet connection, but the processes running on the computer. Therefore, before making a video call, we recommend that you close all unnecessary applications. The same applies to browser tabs.
It also doesn’t hurt to clean your computer of components that “clog” the system. This can be done using optimizers such as or . To ensure security and high performance of your computer, we recommend installing an anti-virus suite equipped with tools for system optimization.
If you find interesting features in two or three programs at once, you can download them together. But be sure to keep in mind that such applications place a significant load on computer resources, so using them simultaneously is recommended only in exceptional cases.