| Message Service | AIM | ICQ | MSN | YAHOO |
| size ~ give or take | 2.56 MB ~ | 3.0 MB~ | size ~ 1.64mb | 2.5 MB ~ |
| ignore | Unlimited blocking, and a warning function, lets them and others know they have been warned | unlimited | ignore=unlimited | 50 max and/or limit contact to friends list |
| chat/ conferences | Conferencing abilities by invite only | chat option to icq servers and conferences | conference by invite, chat through built in msn chat browser. | access the yahoo chat servers and you can set conferences with friends |
| alias/account | 1 alias per account
~ you can link accounts now, and run more than one aim account at once | 1 alias per account | 1 alias per account (?) | 7 per account |
| smiles | 2500 freaking graphical smiles | 2001 and UP has aim style graphic smiles | errr a ton of graphical smiles | has 64 ~ some animated |
| voice | works nice for even low end comp users. nice cross compatibility for mac users | via icq phone | for Windows only, will only work in a pm between two people and not conferences | for windows users only ~ works in chat and in private messages and conferences ~ set up wizard built in to test settings |
| sound files | hmmm | no | none | a simple command and you can play a wav file in a private message or in the chat option |
| webcam | you can use cams with the buddy cam plug in or Logitech's cam plug in | * | with Microsoft TV Messenger Microsoft TV or Logitech's cam plug in | built in, but first time users need to view and many need to show cams 1 time on java chat |
| phone | Low Quality with lots of disconnects. | yes | have to open an account, not many country/regions providers | with a phone card. quality is not really worth the ad though |
| sms | yes | yes | no | no ~ but yahoo mobile |
| file transfer | direct connections, allowing for quick transfer of a lot of files, or unlimited size file transfers through simple connections. | yes, very reliable | yes, shows status on private message window | yes, 1.5 MB limit but recently it allows direct connect for larger files |
| archive | no, but you can save the transcripts of conversations | yes. a nice one | only available with Messenger Plus! | yes, but you must activate it. and backing up of archives is recommended |
| pop up ad | yes | no | no | yes~ but can be disabled |
| ad on message | yes, can be removed
with deadaim | yes | no | on the chat and conference options,
ad can be replaced or removed |
| skins | no | yes | ? | comes with 3, easy to change |
| text blends | no | no | no | text can be faded in chat and message option |
| reminders | no | no | no | users can set reminders in the calendar option of yahoo |
| contact share | you can save your buddy list and send | yes | no | nope |
| online time | * | no | no | nope |
| status message | yes | iffy | no | standard afk options, and room for 5 easy to change personal ones |
| offline service | no | yes - seems most reliable | no | yes~ but not reliable |
| java option | yes | icqlite | no | yes and profiles and web pages have a message me option |
| pm extras | customizable backgrounds and font colors and sizes | * | fonts, colors and size text is shown | IMVironments allow you several different options on the instant message screen |
| other ~ | has a translator and web cam plug in buddyzoo deadaim |
icq stuff.. like remove ads.... | check
dMSN | major security probs with the latest versions. ACTIVE content... remove ads |
