RealTime - RealTime is a Free chat application that has direct PC to PC chat, messaging that is so fast it can be used to chat, and 1000 rooms for group chatting,
980 of those rooms are lockable with a password for private group chatting. Plus... enough options to make your head spin and also, in conjunction with RealTime services you can get realtime on line help with computer and other problems.

e-Pal Pad 2.0 - A simple chat client for TCP/IP based connections. It's designed for simple and fast use, without all the fancy stuff you don't need anyway.

Fire Talk - The complete, Internet-based voice communication service that elegantly combines high quality voice and conference calling with the best of online text messaging and chat. FireTalk lets you find friends online and talk to them in real time using only a PC (with speakers, a microphone or headset) and the Internet.

Friendly Talk 2.0 - A simple, light chat program which allows you to communicate with your friends in real time. FriendlyTalk introduces a new method for chat communication.

GurlChat - Gurl Power!! This looks really cool. Gurl.com offers free chat, webspace, email, 'zines , and they give away stuff.

iChat - This is similar to ICQ and AOL's Instant Messenger. But with iChat, you get to page your friends in real time.

ICQ - This is probably the most known program out there. Its a MUST get.

ICQ Backup - ICQ Backup is a utility that backups and restores your ICQ data files.

ICQ Plus! - ICQ Plus allows you to change the appearance of ICQ. When installed, ICQ Plus integrates with ICQ by adding a menu item to the main menu. Choosing this menu item brings up a dialog which lets you configure ICQ's appearance in several ways. You can apply a predefined skin or create one yourself. ICQ Plus also allows you to change the appearance of individual features as well.

Multi ICQ - A new program named mICQ, or multi ICQ, has been released in version
3.3. This program allows you to open up to 1,000 different ICQ windows. This will allow you to have one UIN for friends, one for family, one for business, etc., and have them all running at the same time. Check it out:

IRC-Handler - IRC Handler is a small and very useful program. The best way to describe it would be to say it is very much like an address book - and it is just that! However, it is customized for use with IRC and even ICQ info.

Microsoft NetMeeting - NetMeeting reviewed as "the king of the hill..."  Network Computing points to Microsoft NetMeeting as "the king of the hill for client-side collaborative computing on IP networks.

Mirc - This is probably the most popular chat program on the internet. and its completely free!

Pal-Talk 1.6 -Paltalk is a voice and text chat program. Like many other programs, it lets you define a personal list of online connections, and it will tell you which of your friends are online at any given time. In addition to letting you chat via text, Paltalk also lets you actually speak to other users in real-time over the internet for free using your microphone, speakers and soundcard. The Paltalk Version 1.6 update adds both Group Voice and Text Chat capability. Users can join existing groups, create their own groups or create private groups. Version 1.6 also enhances user privacy options as well as added state information.

PeerChat v2.0 - Thousands of shortcuts to speed along conversations but the conversations must start via e-mail first.

People Watcher - A small free Internet-based application which allows you to see your friends online. A simple, easy-to-use interface gives you a window through which you can observe your friends' online status.

PowWow - PowWow® is full-featured Internet community and communications software. It's designed specifically for creating, managing and hosting online PowWow Communities. More than three million users worldwide communicate with each other and participate in more than 4,000 Communities using Tribal Voice's PowWow® software.

TalkToMe 1.20 - A full-featured talking program that uses Microsoft Character Animations.

The Ultimate Chat Room Index - Many links to chat sites found on the web, chats on love,age,music,sports and   more, each with a short description.

Visual IRC - ViRC '97's unique features include an Office 97-like user interface, voice chat, video conferencing, a powerful, object-oriented scripting language (ViRCScript), support for Active Scripting, allowing VBScript and JavaScript code (and any other Active Scripting language too, including Perl and Python) to be seamlessly combined with ViRCScript code for the ultimate in flexibility. ViRC '97 combines ease-of-use with extensive customizability and features never seen before in an IRC client to create the most powerful IRC client ever produced, suitable for the novice and expert alike.

X-Chat - A private chat program designed for Intranet or Internet use.

Yahoo! Pager - User profiles, e-mail notification, link transfers, but no file transfers.