iSight : Common PC Chat Applications and iChat
As mentioned in the Title box - there are pages that were written a little while ago by EZ Jim, a poster on the Apple Discussions who contributed to iSight and iChat Discussions. The words the following pages are EZ Jim's
Use the the Information Column Menu for EZ Jim's pages
Common PC Chat Applications and iChat
iChat AV is a client application that can access the AIM Server. That is why iChat AV can connect with other AIM Server clients such as AIM for Windows and Trillian on the PC.
Many users ask if they can use iChat AV with Microsoft / MSN Messenger for Mac,
Windows Messenger,
http://messenger.yahoo.com/download.php;_ylt=AqvuQHE0sjCzoH6_UIApcadwMMIF was link for Yahoo! Messenger for Mac,
or AIM 4.7 for Mac.
I have used the Way Back Machine to grab Links where possible. I picked dated in the 2006 range for those I could find and stated that AIM for Mac was still at version 4.7 at this time. One link I could not find and left it showing now as plain text. (I did try shortening the link to the php bit but with no sucess either).
Other than AIM for Mac, the above named apps do NOT work directly with iChat AV because they are clients of other servers: MSN, Yahoo, etc. The AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and Windows Messenger servers use different protocols specified by their owners. Therefore, they are not able to connect with each other. Only the owners of these servers could agree to make them compatible with each other, and there is no indication that they intend to undertake such a long and expensive process.
Some of the apps named here can connect to Jabber servers, as can iChat AV 3. Such apps can connect with each other via compatible Jabber servers. Limitations of the Jabber connections are, in fact, implementation limitations resulting from the server owners' decisions on how Jabber may be used on their servers.
Here is a summary of what works (and what doesn't) for these common applications.
Except as noted, all references are to iChat AV 2.1. Where iChat AV 3 is intended, iChat AV 3 is specified.
iChat AV 3 Jabber: text chat:
For info see:
- iChat to MSN Through Jabber,
iChat Jabber Tutorial EDit 2024:- Useful even though Jabber Austrailia no longer exists, and
Jabber Servers (Re-Edited link 2024 This is a 2006 list grab and is not up to date).
Addition 2024:- https://jabberworld.info/servers/ is a current list.
The four links above can be used to set up the Jabber side of iChat and link to the MSN, Yahoo! and other servers using the correct server with the 'right' Transports, picked from the third/fourth links first.
HOWTO - Use MSN, Yahoo!, or ICQ in iChat, This is a blog that states the same but in fewer words.
There is no Jabber in iChat AV 2.1.
Microsoft Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger)
Microsoft Messenger:Mac (MSMM) is a text only app. You cannot use iSight (or any camera) with MSMM for Mac.
MSM (whether the Mac or PC version) will not connect to iChat AV 2.1 in any way, even for text. MSMM for Mac will connect with MSM whether on PCs or on other Macs, but for text ONLY.
(EDIT 06Mar21) The latest Microsoft Messenger for Mac (5.1) claims:
A corporate account uses ... Live Communications Server, .... can also have instant message conversations with users who have other instant messaging services, such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo Messenger, and iChat users who are signed in with AOL accounts.
Although I have not tested this, it seems this claims that those who establish a corporate account can text chat with users of these other chat server clients. If this is what you want to do, alternative apps such as Adium, (Edit 2024. Link works but download is older Power PC/Intel software) Fire, (Edit 2024: Live link. Older Software again) and Proteus can also allow you to text chat with users of multiple chat services.( Edit 2024:- Although the www.defaultware/proteus link works it is no longer to the app. I have changed the main link to a Web Archive 2006 version.) (END EZ JIM EDIT)
There are two alternative clients of the MSMM server that MAY allow Mac video chat with PC Microsoft/MSN Messenger users: Mercury Messenger for Mac and aMSN for Mac OS X (tend to be Video with no Audio). (Edit 2024:- Both links are now lead to the Web Archive versions)
Yahoo! Messenger (EDIT 05Aug25)
Yahoo! Messenger for Mac (YM) can use iSight's camera, but does NO audio of any kind. This is the way the software is written, not a problem with iSight.
Although this Yahoo! Help page still indicates that Yahoo! does not have a schedule for adding Macintosh audio, the YM link at the top of this FAQ claims to add "Voice." (Edit 2024:- That is in fact the link I could not find for this 2024 update !!.
I downloaded and tested Yahoo! Messenger (v.2.5.3 for OS X) on 8/25/05, and I find NO VOICE capability. It seems YM's link is in error or premature. For now, YM provides only text and video chat without audio.
Yahoo Messenger (whether the Mac or PC version) will not connect to iChat AV 2.1.
FYI: Some Mac users report that YM is difficult to use. It was simple plug and play for me, but if you search iSight Discussions for "Yahoo," you will find that some seem unable to use YM for anything but text. Yahoo! Help suggestions were ineffective for some of these users. Those users have a choice between changing to another chat app or trying Yahoo! Messenger on a PC, for which Yahoo! Messenger application seems better supported.
AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) for Mac
AIM for Mac is a text chat only application. Therefore, you can not use iSight (or any camera) with AIM for Mac.
AIM for Mac will connect to BOTH iChat AV and to AIM for PC, but for text ONLY.
Use iChat AV if you want to use your iSight with a PC user who uses AIM.
Trillian
The PC application "Trillian Pro" can be used on the PC for audio & video chat with iChat AV.(Edit 2024:- Web Archive Link to a 2006 version (Trillian 3.1) as the www.trillian.cc links that was here to www.trillian.im/video-calling) .
There is no Mac version of Trillian. (Edit: Actually there is a Beta but both this and the Trillian Pro have seemed to have slowed in develoment)(Edit 2024:- I found on the Web Archive a 1st July 2010 grab using the trillian.im address that lists a Mac version as Alpha but it seems it is 2014 before it is a full version. It also appears that they ran two websites for a significant overlap in time - that is outside the Time Frame that EZ Jim was writting about at the time.
Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger is a PC application with NO Macintosh version (Edit 2024:- Again it does come but it is later and outside the Time Frame.
Windows Messenger doesn't connect with iChat.
For Mac text, audio, and video messaging, Apple offers iChat AV.(Edit 2024:- Web Archive Link so you can look. What the Blurb does mention is iChat Server - part of the OS Server version of OS 10.3 iChat Server is a Jabber Server
My best suggestions for Mac Video Chat with PCs are at this link. See iChat Help on your Mac or Ralph Johns' iChat Pages for more info about iChat AV.
Other AV apps are linked in the Some Applications you can use with iSight FAQ. and here.
If you are primarily interested in text chat, there are more alternatives, although the ones I have tried do not work as well as iChat AV, and most do not do audio or video AT ALL between Mac and PC users. See IRC, Chat & Instant Messaging for some apps you may want to try.
Edit 2024:- This link still works. At first I thought the date of last Modification from most apps showed the demise of AIM then MSN and Yahoo Messengers. However it lists Messages 14 and a date in 2019 for last modification, but then lists OS 10.15 Sequoia as the Required Base level. Sequoia has Messages 14. 2019 is even before Big Sur's release date in Nov 2020. Big Sur is when the iOS version was ported back to Macs which might explain the dates despite the updates since.
Written By EZ Jim
Made on a Mac®
© 2005, 2006 EZ Jim
© 2005 Ralph Johns: Edited 24/9/2005, 5/5/2006
Updated September 2006. Moved to Gargoyles Mar 2007. Major review October 2024 towards HTML5
Information Column
EZ Jim's iSight Stuff
Plain Text links to related Pages
For Screen Readers
EZJim Folder
EZJimindex Index of EZ Jim's iSight and Other InfoUsing iSight Using iSight
EZJim page2 Where to Find Help for iSight
EZJim page3 About the Built-In iSights
EZJim page4 How to Test your iSight is Functional
EZJim page5 Improving your (External) iSight's Picture
EZJim page6 Possible Conflicts with iSight an iChat
EZJim page7 Some Applications you can Use with an iSight
EZJim page8 iSight V DV Camcorder or other Web Cam
EZJim page9 Mounts for your External iSight
EZJim page10 iSight Versions (External)
EZJim page11 How to Turn your iSight Really Off
EZJim page12 iSight and the PC
EZJim page13 Common PC Applications and Chatting
EZJim page14 Mac Video Chat with PCs
EZJim page15 Using An iSight with iChat
EZJim page16 Help for iChat 3 Problems
EZJim page17 How to Get iChat working again
EZJim page18 Check your Broadband Speed
EZJim page19 OS X Maintenance
EZJim page20 Updating the OS
EZJim page21 Reinstalling the OS
EZJim page22 Macintosh System Stability
Made on a Mac®
