For reasons known only to those who frequent "chat rooms", chatting is one of the most popular activities on the Internet. It is indeed one of the big selling features of the online services. In fact at one time the online services were the only place most people could go for Real Time Chat.

"Chatting" is done using "user names" or "nicknames." Real names are not usually used. Be advised that with any anonymous encounter the risk of being deceived is high. My suggestion is: Be yourself, have fun, and in the words of X-Files' Chris Carter..."trust no one."

Chatrooms may seem a little intimidating at first. It is suggested that one listens (or "reads" as the case may be) before speaking (or "typing"). If it seems like the participants are speaking a foreign language, it's because they are! A+Chatroom Directory provides a great explanation of all the commonly used acronyms.

If your are currently subscribing to an online service such as America Online you can go directly to a chat room and begin chatting. If you are accessing the Internet through an ISP you may need to obtain special software.

Skype is my favorite. Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It’s free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers.

One of the most popular software is AOL's Instant Messenger. You do not need to be a AOL subscriber to use the software and it's free! Instant messaging allows you to quickly exchange messages with your online friends. Unlike email, instant messages appear as soon as they're sent. Just be prepared for spyware & pop-up ads with this program.

Several other "messengers" are also available.  Windows Live Messenger is easy to use, delivers great voice and video quality, and enables cool, new innovation with lots of other products and services you use every day.

Yahoo's Instant Messenger also allows you to communicate by sending video images.

Lycos has something new called the Lycos Community Desktop.  It allows you to do the following:

• See who's online across Lycos Communities
• Chat & Instant Message with your Buddies & other Lycos Communities members
• Send pictures, MP3 audio, and other files instantly to online members

Microsoft's Windows Meeting Space (for Vista only). Windows Meeting Space enables face-to-face collaboration among small groups of Windows Vista users—virtually anytime, anywhere. Useful for both business and personal purposes, this tool enables you to share work on computer-based projects with other people more easily and comfortably. Visit their page for more information.

Another fun product is ICQ.  As the name implies, ICQ or 'I Seek You' is simply a clever way of getting in touch with people. This small program takes the complicated work of finding friends, colleagues and people with similar interests across the globe, people who could be communicating by email, chat, SMS, phone or pager, and makes it as straight forward as calling across a room and starting a friendly conversation.

Now you have the software for chatting but don't know where to go? Check out some of these Web sites.

Favorite Web Sites

ICQ Chat Chat Rooms, join thousands of chatters now.

#1 Free Chat Rooms Boulevard Check out this collection of free chat rooms based on topics found throughout the information superhighway.

Chat Seek Browse by category to find a chat area related to a specific topic.

MSN Chat MSN provides dozens of chat categories on topics ranging from parenting & romance to sports and computing.

Talk City A place where people meet to share friendships & find support as they face life’s ups & downs.

WebArrow A+ Chat Room Directory Contains links & description of various chat web sites found throughout cyberspace

Yahoo! Chat Talk to friends or celebrity guests, plus try voice chat or webcams.