How to iChat with PC users

Question

Level 1

9 points

How to iChat with PC users

Tired of having to open up iChat, Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo Messenger and ICQ. I want to convert all my family and friends to iChat. But it seems that iChat is not available to the PC world, which unfortunately includes almost everyone on my chat list.
I want to use iChat for a couple of reasons, being a new Mac convert, and loving this bright new world, I want to use all-Mac-software on my Macbook Pro and abandon all PC rubbish.
Plus, and more importantly, I cannot video chat with more than one user on Skype or Windows Live Messenger. And I see that this function is available in iChat.
I currently use iChat only to chat with my facebookers.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 3, 2011 1:38 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

727,409 points

Feb 3, 2011 1:44 PM in response to Lulu.Tansley

iChat can communicate with all of those except Skype through Jabber transports. Skype is not interoperable with iChat and needs to be run from a separate application.

(56621)

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Answer 2

Feb 3, 2011 2:02 PM in response to Lulu.Tansley

Hi,

The method Niel talks about is found here
http://allforces.com/2005/05/06/ichat-to-msn-through-jabber/

This is one list of Public servers that indicates the Services (transports) they run
http://www.jabberes.org/servers/

However this method will not allow you to Video to those Buddies that are on different services via those Transports you set up.

iChat uses SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) to Connect to any Buddy in any Buddy list.
I have not heard of a Transport that Enables Video or Audio Chat.
Jabber also uses Jingle to Connect Jabber apps that can do Video/Audio. (You will read in that link that Google's version of Jingle does not work with other Jabber apps either)

You may want to consider these options for multi-way Video chats

Alternatives to iChat but Video chatting In a Web Browser
Koowy (Formerly MeBeam). An option to use a Web site that create Private room for Video Chatting. Uses Flash to access your Camera and Mic.
iVideoChat Similar setup but a somewhat corporate type look to the site. Has Public rooms as well. Again uses Flash.
Googlemail/GoogeTalk now do a Version in a Web Browser
Tokbox A Site that can link your existing Buddy Lists that Uses Flash to Video chat in a Browser.

(from this page http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/page5.html#_other)

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

10:01 PM Thursday; February 3, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Message was edited by: Ralph Johns (UK)

Changed MeBeam to Koowy

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