The popular web messenger service, eBuddy is about to receive a major refresh, which will be available to users from April 6. Originally named e-messenger until 2004, eBuddy has expanded to become one of the largest web IM platforms available today. We at Messenger Stuff have been given an early preview of what the new eBuddy has to offer.

The upcoming release takes the web application in a new direction, boasting a similar interface to its largest competitor Meebo. So how does eBuddy compare? I'll put to you the problem I've always had with eBuddy: its interface. The design and layout has always been bland and bloated for the user. It seems uncomfortable on my screen. This redesigned build however removes its out-dated system of pop-up windows and instead renders the application in your current browser window. Everything from the login form to sending a message is now unadulterated, simple and maintains a high level of polish. The whole package now feels more modern and in line with the modern web. A spokesperson for eBuddy summarised the changes perfectly:



The great thing about eBuddy is its integration with various other IM platforms. All IM clients tend to share the same basic functionality e.g. setting a display name, chatting to a friend, blocking a certain individual. eBuddy however, includes features for each specific client. Need to set your personal message? Nudge a contact? You can! eBuddy, particularly for MSN/ Windows Live Messenger users is simply your desktop client, but available at any computer without having to install anything. You can't claim eBuddy is a stripped down, half-coded version of Messenger (unlike what a lot of web messengers are out there).

The level of customisation in eBuddy is thus its greatest strength. You can sort your contacts however you prefer or use several buddy lists from various platforms in one window.The tabbed interface improves navigation, conservations are easier to follow and the new jQuery functions make using the application nothing short of beautiful.

eBuddy appears to be going from strength to strength, with a wider userbase and a superb iPhone application. A refresh to the main client itself appears to mark the end of a significant step in eBuddy's development strategy.

Honestly I never was a huge fan of eBuddy, preferring Meebo when I was pushed to use a web messenger. Now I have to re-think my use for Meebo as the new eBuddy provides a vast array of features presented in a clean and creative way. If any of you have any similar allegiances to a certain web messenger I would recommend, come April 6 to give the new eBuddy a try. You may just make the switch.

View a screenshot of the new buddy list
View a screenshot of the chat window

Since the eBuddy app for the iPhone and iPod Touch was released back in July it has been a commercial success and is now one of the most popular apps to ever hit Apple's monopolistic mobile applications store. With over 4 million downloads the eBuddy team have been working hard to add new features in a timely fashion.


Pro users can now customise the app with themes

Pro users have the ability to customise their mobile eBuddy with themes, an important new feature within the update. As eBuddy supports push notifications it is desirable to constantly have the client running, even when you may be away. The new auto-away feature allows users to set their status to away after a specific time interval.

The new build also boasts several bug fixes and added customisation over the use of push notifications. All in all the eBuddy team have provided a solid update and users should update to receive the full benefit. If you're new to eBuddy for iPhone download the app from the store (for free) today.

Source: eBuddy blog - eBuddy for iPhone update

Wow, it has been a while since I last posted here so I feel I owe an explanation. Having just started university things have been a bit manic and with Halloween being tonight, I thought I should squeeze in a post before venturing out.

• Messenger Plus! 4.83: Patchou has released a small update for Messenger Plus! Live which addresses some bugs and compatibility issues, whilst removing traces of the recent contest. [Read more]
  
  
• MessengerDiscovery 3.0 plans: Matt, the creator of MessengerDiscovery has already outlined the program's future development plans. Perhaps the most notable new feature on the list is the end of the proxy connections and the application becoming open source to encourage other developers to migrate to Messenger. [Read more]
  
  
• eBuddy receives a re-code: The hit web messenger eBuddy is working on a new web messenger, from the ground up, drawing on newer technologies and better user-interaction. A sleeker interface, along with greater depth for customization and a new layer of polish ensures the service stays up to date with this fast moving industry. [Read more]
  
  
• Interview with Marcus Schmidt: Marketing manager over at Microsoft, Marcus Schmidt reveals his personal thoughts about the future of Windows Live Messenger and what he would like to see in the upcoming Wave 4 series of Windows Live products. [Read more]
  
  
• A standalone web messenger from Microsoft: Microsoft Singapore have released their own web messenger client based on the Messenger API library. As the old Microsoft web messenger was recently discontinued for one built inside of Windows Live Hotmail this is an interesting move, yet one that should please those seeking a fully featured, yet non-bloated client on the web. [Give it a go]

Speedlinking posts are where I organise all my bookmarks and go over some small news items over the past couple of weeks (or in this case, a month) and write them up here. As ever we aim to deliver all news, no matter how mediocre they may seem, so let's get it out of the way in this post.

• eBuddy reveals statistics (17th July): It may interest you to know the popularity of the hit web messenger. Its new iPhone App reached the top spot in the App Store in 40 countries within the past week, their Mobile Messenger has been downloaded 25 million times and over 1,750,000,000 are sent with eBuddy each week. [Read more]
  
  
• Trillian Astra enters public beta (19th June): The IM buzz for several years now has been about the future of Trillian and we have been posting about it for a long time. The Windows and Web version has entered a public beta phase for everyone to try out. [Read more]
  
  
• 10 IM Apps for the iPhone (15th July): A recent article I came across at theAppleBlog gives an overview of the various IM apps available for the iPhone and presents a rounded and informed overview of each. [Read more]
  
  
• MessengerDiscovery 2.0.48 (10th July): The update provides 12 important bug fixes, new API features and an improved tray menu among several other things. According to Matt via his Twitter feed the update was due some weeks before, but was delayed as he had the flu. [Read more]
  
  
• LiveScratcher public beta (16th July): This week we talked about what TheBlasphemer was doing in 2009, where his new project, LiveScratcher was discussed. Now an early build has been uploaded for Messenger developers to experiment with. If your interested, give it a go. [Read more]

This week the eBuddy team have released eBuddy for iPhone and iPod Touch to the Apple App Store, in a move to make their web messenger a truly mobile, on-the-go experience. With iPhone contracts typically allowing unlimited Internet usage, the app aims to provide your IM client wherever and whenever you want. With push notifications you can always be connected even when using the device's other features.

The application is simple, easy to use and just works. It obvious has had a lot of care taken in its development phase to produce an app that competitors such as Meebo simply do not provide. Specifically designed for the iPhone's latest 3.0 software update (yet compatible with previous versions) eBuddy for your iPhone and iPod Touch offers these main features:

• One buddy list for MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, and Facebook
• Stay online when you exit the app
• Get push notifications for incoming messages when you exit the app
• Reconnect automatically if connection is lost
• Get offline messages after reconnecting
• Get new message alerts & typing alerts in the chat screen
• Easily switch between chats by swiping your screen
• Shake your iPhone or iPod Touch to send a buzzer

The product is still in its early stages, but is one of the great few free apps available in the store. Future updates will allow more features and hopefully address issues such as only allowing to be signed in for 30-minute periods. On the whole however, anyone who wants to use IM at any time or in any place should definitely consider this wonderful program. eBuddy for the iPhone gives it the edge over popular competitor Meebo.

Download the eBuddy App for the iPhone/ iPod Touch
Source: Now in the App Store… eBuddy for iPhone & iPod Touch (eBuddy blog)
Visit the eBuddy website for more details

Web messengers used to be simple web tools for providing basic text chat when you are away from your personal computer. These days, however they are so much more, delivering just as many features as a desktop client would. In keeping with this modern trend, eBuddy has developed a webcam chat feature right from your web browser for use with several IM clients.



The feature works well and is incredibly easy to use with the same functionality as you would expect from your normal IM client. To think even Microsoft Messenger for Mac doesn't even support audio or video chat is remarkable and yet a third party web messenger is doing a great job of it. As always this leaves us with speculation to what eBuddy is going to do for its next trick.

Source: eBuddy blog
View details of the new webcam feature at eBuddy.com

Just a quick post here for our international readers. The hit web messenger, eBuddy, has been updated to support a whopping 37 languages! Vincent G writes:


eBuddy blog: eBuddy speaks your language!

It has been a while since we have last seen an update to the main eBuddy client, which in the competitiveness of the web messenger market has forced the development team to respond. The result is a newer, fresher and more polished eBuddy application, containing several notable improvements. Vincent G at the eBuddy blog states:

• Loading of your contact list is now twice as fast as before! This means no more waiting, especially when you have a lot of friends in your contact list
• Many stability fixes, no longer your eBuddy gets disconnected for no reason or you can see users online who left the computer hours ago!
• Adding a network to your account has never been easier! We completely redesigned the way you add another account to your eBuddy, so it is less likely you make a mistake
• Redesign of all popup windows! They were soooo 2007
• New way of changing your name and custom status. Our user research showed that this actually annoyed you the most, so we changed it! Your name is most important, so it is displayed above your personal shout
• New Help pages. We are not there yet, but we completely redid the Frequently Asked Questions page. It should now answer your most urgent and common questions (surprisingly)

Yet more positive news hits Messenger Stuff. Web messengers are really pushing innovation in terms of user friendliness and, more recently, integration with a variety of new and interesting products. Good work eBuddy team!

eBuddy blog: Yes! We are still here! New Stability Improvements!

It's been a feature packed week for eBuddy, with the development team adding two major services to their popular mobile and web messenger clients:




It's great to see how all our IM clients coming together in one easy to use service. Moreover, the Facebook messenger client support is a sign of its fast increasing popularity. Maybe the predictions we made a few months ago are coming true?

eBuddy blog: ICQ support added
eBuddy blog: Facebook chat on eBuddy

Just a quick post here, the popular web messenger eBuddy has been updated for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The new interface is sleeker and easier to use than ever, with the ability to add eBuddy to your home screen if you're an iPhone 3G user.

View the announcement at the eBuddy blog