Communications - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews

for the week of: November 16Downloads

1.
Camfrog Video Chat
Webcam Software217,800
2.
mIRC
Chat215,591
3.
Windows Live Messenger
Chat60,964
4.
Trillian
Chat37,413
Memeo Share

Share photos and videos directly to the desktop.

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5.
Yahoo Messenger
Chat36,701
6.
ManyCam Virtual Webcam
Webcam Software32,260
7.
Miranda IM
Chat25,630
PaltalkScene 12.61

See, hear, and chat live in video rooms.

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PC Doc Pro

Improve system performance by fixing invalid entries.

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8.
MSN Messenger (Windows 98/Me)
Chat20,871
9.
Digsby
Chat16,043
10.
Skype
Web Phones & VoIP Software15,452

See all most popular software

Adobe Acrobat Prof9

Compile different file types into one for easier sharing.

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TrendMicro AV+AntiSpy

Detect and remove adware and spyware from your computer.

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Release date

Mozilla Thunderbird Sep 26
E-mail Software
VoxOx Nov 03
E-mail Software
Yahoo Messenger Sep 23
Chat
Windows Live Messenger Sep 19
Chat
PaltalkScene Sep 18
Chat
ICQ Apr 17
Chat
mIRC Oct 22
Chat
IncrediMail Xe Jul 29
E-mail Software
Trillian Oct 03
Chat
POP Peeper Jul 22
E-mail Utilities

See all new releases

1.
ICQ
Communicate instantly using the latest version of this popular chat client.
2.
Trillian
Chat with all your friends on mIRC, AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo Messenger.
3.
mIRC
Chat with other people and participate in group discussions.
4.
Yahoo Messenger
Communicate instantly with your friends on Yahoo IM using custom avatars, PC-to-PC calling, and lively emoticons.
5.
Skype
Experience free, unlimited, high-quality voice communication over the Internet.
6.
ManyCam Virtual Webcam
Add graphics and effects to your Webcam and broadcasts on messengers.
7.
WebcamMax
Add videos, screens, and effects to your Web camera and broadcast on all messengers.
8.
Mozilla Thunderbird
View e-mail and news the way you want it, with intelligent junk controls and personalized themes.
9.
Pidgin
Keep in touch with all your friends on this GTK2-based instant messenger.
10.
Mozilla Lightning
Add a calendar to your e-mail client.

See all editor's picks

from the download blog

AOL Sync beta launched for Outlook, phones

Posted by Jessica Dolcourt on Nov 20, 2008

Beta testers of AOL Sync will be able to sync selective information to Microsoft Outlook and their mobile phones.

an introduction to Communications

The Internet is all about communication. From e-mail software to chat clients to the latest in VoIP software, Download.com's Communications category has everything you need to reach out and touch someone.

Of course you use e-mail, but which e-mail program should you use? A number of e-mail programs are free, from the venerable Microsoft Outlook Express to our current favorite, Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird supports IMAP and POP mail protocols and can handle all your RSS feeds. It features cutting-edge antiphishing and spam filters in addition to advanced security features such as S/MIME, digital signing, and message encryption.

You'll also want to download all the latest e-mail extensions, such as spam filters and programs that notify you when e-mail is sent to your online accounts.

If you're too impatient for e-mail, chat software allows real-time communication between any two PCs. Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, MSN Messenger (soon to be Windows Live Messenger), and AOL Instant Messenger are the major players in the chat market, with ICQ still a popular choice among hard-core chat fans.

If your friends use different clients and you don't want to install them all, Trillian lets you chat with everyone regardless of chat platform, including IRC-based chat rooms.

Of course, why bother typing e-mails when you can just talk to someone over your PC? Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, allows you to turn your PC into a Web phone to call other Internet-connected PCs and talk as long as you want at no charge. Programs such as Skype, GloPhone, and BuddyTalk are painless to install and easy to use, and all three allow you to place calls to regular phones by signing up for a calling plan. For more information, check out the Download.com guide to Net Phones.