Skype Versus Yahoo! Messenger
Since August 2003, when Skype first released its beta version of the program, Skype has gained over 137 million members. The Yahoo! Messenger service is available to anyone holding a Yahoo! ID, providing services such as My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Answers, Yahoo! 360°, and much more. There are around 22 million users of only the Messenger service. Both services are constantly used by its members and are highly popular.
I have used many instant-messaging systems. Skype and Yahoo! Messenger are my absolute favorites. Both offer numerous engaging and innovative features.
Chat Engine Comparison
Skype allows the user to chat using its simplistic chat engine. It is extremely easy to navigate through and is lightning fast. Skype Chat also allows you to chat with more than one person in the same chat window. For instance, if you and your colleagues were separated and wanted to communicate together, everyone could sign into Skype and participate in the group chat. The group chat creator can additionally send invites to certain members to include them in the chat.
Yahoo! Messenger's chat engine is more bulky and slower. However, the Yahoo! Chat engine contains many more features. IMVironments, chatting backgrounds, are exceptionally fun to experiment with. Additionally, "Audibles," animated emoticons that talk, make your chatting experience tremendously entertaining. When you are chatting, you can play games with your friend and share photos. However, Yahoo! Messenger does not support group chat.
Telephone Service Comparison
Both Skype and Yahoo! Messenger provide telephone service, known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Skype allows you to call other Skype members for free. Video calling is enabled. Skype also lets you call telephone numbers for a small fee, using a service called SkypeOut. Additionally, Skype provides SkypeIn, a system that gives you a phone number that others can call. You can pick up the call on your computer and talk. If you are not there, the caller can leave a message in your voice mail. Conference calling is provided for free. Skype's telephone service is amazing, reliable, and very easy to use.
Yahoo! Messenger also provides free PC-to-PC telephone service. PC-to-Phone and Phone-to-PC service requires a fee. Voicemail is free, however, unlike Skype. Video calling is also included. A drawback, though, is the sound and video calling quality. Sometimes, you cannot hear the call and you have to call again. When using the video, the quality is extremely bad and it is tough to see the person. Group calling is not included.
Speed, Ease Of Use, and Quality Comparison
Skype is compact and is extremely fast. It is very easy to use and hardly ever crashes. Its many features do not slow down the program at all. The call quality is excellent and is usually scratch-free. Problems hardly ever occur.
Yahoo! Messenger is loaded with features, but the program is very slow. It is fairly easy to use and is very innovative. The custom graphical user interface will cause many problems and can often make the program not respond.
Final Comparison
With my experiences between both programs using a cable network, I prefer Skype to Yahoo! Messenger. Skype is a much faster program and does not take up as much memory as Yahoo! Messenger. If you prefer quality, stick with Skype. Skype will provide better call quality without taking up lots of space. If you enjoy innovation, use Yahoo! Messenger. Yahoo! Messenger is more high-tech and provides countless features, but is slower and more bulky.
Both Skype and Yahoo! Messenger are wonderful IM systems with numerous members. Whichever one you choose, they will certainly provide you with an excellent communication system to meet your needs.
Published by Chris Wellmen
Chris Wellmen is a freelance media professional with years of research, editing, teaching, and writing experience. View profile
SeaMonkey - Browse, Email and Chat All-In-OneSeaMonkey is a web browser, html editor, email client, address book and chat application, all in one. Based on the same technologies that brought you Firefox web browser and Thu...- SMC WiFi Skype Phone (WSKP100) Versus Netgear WiFi Skype Phone (SPH101) Product Co...The SMC WiFi Skype Phone (WSKP100) and the Netgear WiFi Skype Phone (SPH101) are both white. The similarities between these two wireless, Skype-certified phones end there.
- Free Skype Calls on Your Apple IPhone or IPod TouchUse Skype on your iPhone or iPod Touch, to make free calls over WiFi networks.
- "Fring" Brings Skype and More to the iPhone and iPod Touch (For Free)
- Linksys CIT310 Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger Review
- Instant Messenger and the Communication Revolution
- A Few Useful Tricks in Messenger Programs (Yahoo! Windows, Skype and Google)
- Which Instant Messenger is Right for You?
- An Explanation of Email Spam, Instant Messaging, Chat Room Spam and Internet Forum...
- Skype is Now on IPhone
- "Instant messaging." Wikipedia. URL: (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messaging)
- Skype has over 137 million registered members.
- There are around 22 million users that use the Yahoo! Messenger service.
15 Comments
Post a Commentyahoo messenger does support group chat. It called conference chat in it
Ok I have two questions.
How does skype work with dialup internet, and are all comp to comp calls free?
I have YM now and as for the messaging it works fine for me but I am looking to get something faster and that will free up my hands. So I'm interested in the comp to comp calls but don't want to have to pay for it.
This was made in 2007. Some changes have been made during those 3 years.
Does Skype offer photo sharing like YM?
When was this article posted? Yahoo! Messenger does support group chatting (also known as conference). Skype is faster and easier to use, but Yahoo! Messenger does have more things to offer other than chat as the article says. Although, the article does not state some of the more important issues about Skype. As you have probably seen on other comments, Skype does charge for some calls, but so does Yahoo! Messenger. Yahoo! Messenger however, does not charge for computer to computer calling.
this comparison was made what year exactly? isnt yahoo able to host conference chat? :P
appreciate the information, just what I wanted to know. given my memory of yahoo, sounds like I shouldn't bother with it.
Actually u can start a conference in yahoo mess and invite other people to join which sounds just like group chat.
yahoo is good but skype is better because it is more faster and easy to use and they are all free!!!
My son will be going to Germany for 4 months and using his cell phone is out of the question. Could someone tell me how to use Yahoo for this while he is gone. What do I need to do??