Tins & Cans - An alternative in communications

The following is an overview of Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Mirabilis Communications (ICQ) and Internet Phones (IPhones). Due to time restraints, the section on email will added as soon as it is written. Thank you for your patience.

Requirements for Chat:
Any computer with a modem
Internet access
Chat Client Software

Requirements for IPhones:
Computer with at least 90mHZ Pentium is recommended
Soundcard with speakers or headphones and a microphone
Modem with connection speed of at least 28,800
Internet access Internet Phone Software

I'll cover chat programs first. Chat is a nickname for "real-time communications via the keyboard". Chat is a great way to communicate toll free, free to download and you'll need them to set up the IPhones with another person. You have to trade IP addresses to use an IPhone for one on one. Your IP changes slightly every time you log on. In other words it's dang hard to get a call going on an IPhone without a chat client. Even though most IPhones have chat, you can't use it until you get your call going. With that in mind I'll proceed.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
IRC has been around the longest and is the most popular way to communicate toll free. Real popular with college students being separated from friends. The most popular program for using IRC is called "mIRC" (pronounced murk) It's available for free download at http://www.mirc.co.uk/ This program is easy to install and use. You can play sounds back and forth, send files, play popups, trade pictures, chat in groups or chat in private. Popups are text pictures. He is a simple one of me looking at you oo0o / .,. \ o00o. A lot of fun stuff.

**Important** When setting up this software DO NOT use real information like email and phone numbers. Not even your name. Everybody goes by nicknames. You need to protect your privacy since this program opens you up to the world of IRC. Fruitcakes and junk email called Spam!

Mirabilis Communications (ICQ) Check out our ICQ guide page!!!!
ICQ is a newcomer on the internet scene really gaining in popularity in 1997. We use it faithfully. It is available for free download at http://www.icq.com/ This program is most popular for keeping track of friends and family. Easy to install and use. During installation you can pick an option that will auto detect when you log on to the internet. By clicking a cute little green flower that sits on your taskbar, you can instantly see who among your friends and relatives are online. You add each other to your own list. You can send instant messages that popup like little email. You can open a chat window privately or have chat conferences. You can send files, web addresses and use it for email. It will also connect into the IPhones you have installed. If you don't have any installed it will point you to where you can get one.

**Important** If you are going to use this for "Open Chat" then the same rules apply to protect your privacy. During installation is when you choose this setting or not. You can always change it later in the Preferences. If you use it for just friends and family or you plan on using it to check your email then choose no for "Open Chat". This will shut the world out and only your friends and family will see you when you log on.

Internet Phones
There are quite a few IPhones out there now. A lot are listed in ICQ. The following are the programs I have tried, where to get them and the results I have had starting with the best first. In order for any of these to work, both parties must have the same IPhone program except the first one listed, Dialpad.com. Dialpad calls the real telephone in the house.

Dialpad.com
This is the latest and greatest as far as Internet Phone services goes. You can use your computer and internet connection to place a phone call to a landline anywhere in the world for free. That's right... I did say landline. It really works and works well. Even though you are on the internet with a computer it dials the telephone of the people you are trying to get a hold of. It's easy to use and setup all at no charge. Check it out at http://www.dialpad.com/

NetMeeting by Microsoft
NetMeeting is available for free download at http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/ NetMeeting is easy to use as it looks like a browser window. You can join groups and talk to many at once, private conference calls or one on one calls. If you have a camera, NetMeeting has Video conference capabilities. It has chat in case you want to type and whiteboard so you can doodle back and forth. On a good night the quality is that of a speaker phone. You will suffer from drop-outs and lag from time to time. A lot of times recalling or having the other party call you will cure this.

WebPhone by NetSpeak
The WebPhone is available for a trial download at http://www.netspeak.com/ Takes second place because it looks the coolest. It looks like a cellular phone. The quality of sound using WebPhone is excellent. You have four lines so you can put people on hold or direct them to voicemail. You can set up your own outgoing message just like any answering machine. You can receive messages whether you are online or not. It has chat and white board as well. It can be very tricky getting it set up right and a lot of time you can only talk one at a time. You are also limited to 4 minute conversation unless you register it for about $50.00.

CoolTalk by Netscape
Netscape is available for free download at http://netscape.com Easy to install, a little tricky to use. Has a limited answering service. White board and chat functions. Also has a business card editor. You can have your picture on file so when they call they see a head shot of yourself. I have not tried the most recent version. I have it....but am still looking for someone who also has it to play with the settings. The older version, I could never get to work much better than a cheap walkie-talkie.

Powwow by Tribal Voice
Powwow is available for free download at http://www.tribal.com Easy to install. I could never get mine to work. They have released two upgrades since I tried it and it may work better now. I have heard good things from others. Some of the new features are community chat rooms with virtually unlimited number of participants, instant messaging & buddy lists, automatic text-to-voice conversion, games, white boarding, Web tours, URL and WAV file transmission.