Yahoo! Messenger is a popular instant messaging client and protocol provided by Yahoo!. Yahoo! Messenger is provided free of charge and can be downloaded and used with a generic "Yahoo! ID" which also allows access to other Yahoo! services, such as Yahoo! Mail, where users can be automatically notified when they receive new email. Yahoo instant messenger also includes a security feature which allows the user to be "invisible" to whoever they choose.

In addition to instant messaging features similar to those offered by ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger, it also offers some unique features such as: IMVironments (customizing the look of Instant Message windows) and Custom Status Messages. Another recently added feature is customized avatars.

Yahoo Messenger Features

• Yahoo Voice lets you talk to millions of other Yahoo Messenger users across the world. It makes free calls PC-to-PC and low cost calls PC-to-Phone.
• Yahoo Messenger now comes with a voicemail feature which lets your friends leave you a voicemail while you are offline.
• Starting version 8, Yahoo Messenger now supports Video chat feature.
• Users can leave offline messages to you while you are not online.
• Talk to Microsoft Live users while you use Yahoo Messenger.
• Many games available to play while you are online on Messenger.