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Communications

You'll find all the latest e-mail software and chat clients at CNET Download.com, as well as e-mail utilities and spam filters, VoIP software, Web phones, Webcam applications, and everything else you'll need to reach out and touch someone. See all 0 products in this category. See all 0 products in this category.

for the week of: January 04Downloads
  1. 1.
    Camfrog Video Chat

    Webcam Software209,503

  2. 2.
  3. 3.
    Trillian

    Chat32,743

  4. 4.
    ManyCam Virtual Webcam

    Webcam Software30,739

  5. Diskeeper defrags guaranteeing top PC speeds.
    C++ library simplifies parallel programming for multi-core
  6. 5.
    Yahoo Messenger

    Chat27,683

  7. 6.
  8. 7.
    Skype

    Web Phones & VoIP Software16,182

  9. C++ library simplifies parallel programming for multi-core
    Share photos and videos directly to the desktop.
  10. 8.
    MP3 To Ringtone Gold

    SMS Tools13,750

  11. 9.
    WebcamMax

    Chat13,027

  12. 10.
    mIRC

    Chat10,070

See all most popular software

  1. Search the Web, block pop-ups, get to your mail.
    Reduce multiple passwords to one single item.
Release date
  1. ClicksAndWhistles Jan 05

    Chat

  2. Fastream IQ Reverse Proxy Jan 05

    Dial-up Software

  3. IntraMessenger Jan 05

    Chat

  4. Throttle Jan 05

    Dial-up Software

  5. File2Email Jan 05

    E-mail Utilities

  6. ComputerExpert 2009 Jan 05

    Chat

  7. Advanced Mail-Bomber Jan 05

    E-mail Software

  8. MP3 To Ringtone Gold Jan 05

    SMS Tools

  9. SyncCell for Motorola Jan 03

    SMS Tools

  10. PageGate Jan 03

    SMS Tools

See all new releases

  1. 1.
    ICQ

    Communicate instantly using the latest version of this popular chat client.

  2. 2.
    mIRC

    Chat with other people and participate in group discussions.

  3. 3.
    Yahoo Messenger

    Communicate instantly with your friends on Yahoo IM using custom avatars, PC-to-PC calling, and lively emoticons.

  4. 4.
    Skype

    Experience free, unlimited, high-quality voice communication over the Internet.

  5. 5.
    ManyCam Virtual Webcam

    Add graphics and effects to your Webcam and broadcasts on messengers.

  6. 6.
    WebcamMax

    Add videos, screens, and effects to your Web camera and broadcast on all messengers.

  7. 7.
    Mozilla Thunderbird

    View e-mail and news the way you want it, with intelligent junk controls and personalized themes.

  8. 8.
    Pidgin

    Keep in touch with all your friends on this GTK2-based instant messenger.

  9. 9.
    Mozilla Lightning

    Add a calendar to your e-mail client.

See all editor's picks

from the download blog

The best new Windows programs of 2008

Posted by Seth Rosenblatt on Dec 28, 2008
Check out these six must-have, or at least must-try, new programs from the past year. Did your favorites make the cut?
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Click Here

an introduction to Communications

The Internet is all about communication. From e-mail software to chat clients to the latest in VoIP software, Download.com's Communications category has everything you need to reach out and touch someone.

Of course you use e-mail, but which e-mail program should you use? A number of e-mail programs are free, from the venerable Microsoft Outlook Express to our current favorite, Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird supports IMAP and POP mail protocols and can handle all your RSS feeds. It features cutting-edge antiphishing and spam filters in addition to advanced security features such as S/MIME, digital signing, and message encryption.

You'll also want to download all the latest e-mail extensions, such as spam filters and programs that notify you when e-mail is sent to your online accounts.

If you're too impatient for e-mail, chat software allows real-time communication between any two PCs. Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, MSN Messenger (soon to be Windows Live Messenger), and AOL Instant Messenger are the major players in the chat market, with ICQ still a popular choice among hard-core chat fans.

If your friends use different clients and you don't want to install them all, Trillian lets you chat with everyone regardless of chat platform, including IRC-based chat rooms.

Of course, why bother typing e-mails when you can just talk to someone over your PC? Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, allows you to turn your PC into a Web phone to call other Internet-connected PCs and talk as long as you want at no charge. Programs such as Skype, GloPhone, and BuddyTalk are painless to install and easy to use, and all three allow you to place calls to regular phones by signing up for a calling plan. For more information, check out the Download.com guide to Net Phones.