Yahoo.com has more than just news information etc, it has all the features of a typical web host but the real reason of this opinion is yahoo chat.
It offers its own version of MSN, AOL and ICQ, registered Yahoo’ers can download a simple messenger which is very similar to those listed.
This allows you to chat one to one instant message style, or add a contact; people with similar interests to yourself can be located easily through the people search.
File sharing and voice chat are available too as on other messengers, and the ability to change font styles, colours and emotions are included too.
As with MSN that requires you to have a Hotmail email account, you need to sign up to yahoo and get an email address, however you don’t have to use it, only to get your messenger, this notifies you while you are using it whether you have new mail and you can access it instantly from messenger.
Another good point here is that it is virtually Spam free, well I never received any anyway, this I always find a bonus as I hate all the rubbish some messengers throw at you!
However it does seem to used widely by the USA, and Australia and there don’t seem to be a lot of us Brits using it regularly enough.
Now if instant chat doesn’t appeal Yahoo has more to offer, chat rooms are listed on the main home page and there is something for everyone, from music to regional, so if you fancy popping into a foreign chat room and brushing up on your lingo there you go!.
I tend to steer clear of these larger chats, well with the exception of the one I will be mentioning shortly!, as I find they are full of sex crazed teenagers or hard up men who try to crack on to you. Failing that when you don’t know people you ask a question and get extremely frustrated when everyone seems to talk amongst themselves and pretend you don’t exist.
Now branching out into Yahoo, the other section is the Yahoogroups.com, this I already covered in an earlier opinion, however didn’t include the chat feature.
If you are signed up to a particular sire of interest at yahoo, then there is a chatroom to go with it, this is particularly good if you want to make friends to go with your chosen interest, you can meet up and get to know each other whilst sharing tips and more.
This is good as there are no others allowed in only your group.