Mac users have been conversing with distant associates via VoIP services for quite a while now. They’ve been making and receiving calls for a number of years with programs like Apple’s own iChat utility or third-party options like Skype and Project Gizmo. So it’s not particularly groundbreaking to hear of some name, upgraded for modern IP telephornication. Or whatever the kids do these days with free or ultra-cheap Web-based voice services these days. Nevertheless, when a stalwart of the IM world like Yahoo makes a belated entrance into the VoIP world with a development for the segment of PC owners who live inside the Mac OS X universe, we imagine it’s only appropriate to offer a comment on the news. Considering how large the membership of Yahoo Messenger is around the globe, it seems worthwhile to mention such a launch, right? Right.
Okay, so, the facts. The new beta of Yahoo Messenger for Mac offers a few nice features that devotees to Big Y would find quite attractive when coming off its predecessor. Users now can organize multiple chat windows through a tabbed browsing system. Also, Mac users get access to chat rooms which only Windows users were previously given entry. A new message archiving feature allows you to auto-save text-based conversation for future reference if need be. Webcam access is now an available option. IM “conferences” can be arranged. And, last but not least, file transfers with fellow Yahoo Messenger contacts of sizes up to 2GB.
Yahoo Messenger for Mac is quite like its more veteran market competitors. Users can make PC-to-PC calls as well as pay small fees to use a Phone Out account. Phone In is another option available to Messenger users, which provides you with a phone number to which non-Messenger landlines or mobile contacts can connect with. Skype has presented such services nearly from its earliest beginnings, of course, so there’s nothing particularly special or unique with Yahoo’s release. But given Yahoo’s market share in the IM space, chances are that the Sunnyvale-based company will get hold of quite a few paying subscribers for the sake of convenience.
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