There is a lot going on in the world of Instant Messengers.  Many of them are either in beta or already provide PC-PC voice conversations and most are starting test PC-Phone VoIP systems.  Msn Messenger is beta testing a system with MCI to allow PC-Phone calling at 2.3 cents per minute much like Skype (now owned by eBay) as well as Yahoo! who is testing a version at 1 cent to 2 cents per minute.

Yesterday, I got my feet in the water just a little bit by downloading Yahoo! Messenger with voice 7.0.  It has come a long way from the last time I looked at it a few years ago.  The primary reason I looked at this tool is the voice mail features which MSN messenger lacks.  With it you can leave a message for a person when they are away.  It is a form of Internet answering machine thus filling a gap I have seen in online voice for many years.  Now if they can only do that with video too, I know, I know, it is coming..

On a side note, one feature I am in love with is the built in radio player.  They happen to have a Christmas tune channel that seems to stay playing here all the time ;)

If you have not given Yahoo! Messenger a try for a while, it might be worth a look!