Yahoo Messenger's most popular feature, of course, is its live
instant messenger. Send and receive instant messages from other Yahoo Messenger users, as well as Windows Live users, Reuters Messaging and Lotus Sametime users, too. As usual, send text messages to mobile phones, or photos from your desktop, or Flickr.com. IM conversations are now tabbed, so there's no need to have multiple windows open. Simply sift through them like you would with an XL spreadsheet!
»
Introducing IMVironments

The new Yahoo Messenger has introduced a new concept in instant messaging called
IMVironments, or "IMVs," for short. These interactive themes can be applied to any instant messaging session - and transform the session by adding something interactive to it. For instance, load up "
Doodle" and draw on a whiteboard with your chat buddy. Load up the "
St. Ives quiz" and see which of your online friends gets the highest score. Try the "
Yahoo Search" IMV and search the internet live with your friend, instead of copying and pasting links back and forth. Got a Yahoo Personals account? Merge it with Yahoo Messenger via the "
Yahoo Personals" IMV and search for someone to chat with!
The list goes on with the ever-expanding number of IMV's being added each day. It adds a
huge amount of replay value (and fun) to the same old chat experience!
»
Yahoo Messenger Plugins

You can download and use free plugins to increase your Yahoo Messenger's functionality even more. Watch videos with your friends by using the
Zinc plugin, integrate your Twitter.com account with the
Twitter Sync plugin, play TONS of
free games with your chat buddies, share shopping lists,
book a flight together with your chat buddy, monitor your
eBay auctions or find & share things on eBay, and do an exhausting amount of other tasks with these pretty decent plugins!
»
Yahoo Messenger Avatars
Create a virtual you with this new feature, that lets you create a character to represent yourself. Make it look just like you (or however you want, in case you have a split personality). Dress it up with clothing and accessories. You can even send an animated character over to your chat buddy to get their attention!
Your avatar's
mood will even change during the course of your chat. Regardless if you're happy, sad, shocked, crying or anything else - you'll actually see this change on your avatar!
Avatars are controlled through a new free online service called Yahoo Avatar, which stores your avatar information permanently. Change it any time you want, or have a friend help you with the Avatar Plugin.
»
Game On in Yahoo Messenger

While you chat, why not initiate a new game of chess, pool, checkers or backgammon with a friend? Load up one of these
free included games at any time. As mentioned before, you can also use one of the many online game IMVs that range from arcade, to quiz and strategy, as well!
»
Customize to Your Heart's ContentYahoo Messenger was designed to be extremely customizable: assign a
ringtone to each of your friends, play some
waiting music if you're out (just choose the sound file),
skin the actual messenger itself, or edit the
fonts and
individual colors.
»
Download Yahoo Messenger or Get More Info