Meebo web-based IM

Meebo's web-based Instant Messaging platform

For those of you running Citrix or MS Terminal Services and struggling with a unified Instant Messaging client that is compatible with this platform, consider using a solution like Meebo's web-based service. Yeah, ok so this is another one of my SaaS/mashup rants, but bear with me. I'm sure some of you are already on the Meebo bandwagon (James), but for those of you who haven't discovered it yet, there are some immediate benefits.

First, it's web-based so there is no client to install. If you can run a browser in your terminal session, you can give users IM access.

Secondly, it supports simultaneous login to all of the major IM platforms including AIM, Yahoo, Google and MSN, ICQ and Jabber, as well as it's own Meebo IM platform. There is also support for iPhone and iPOD Touch mobile access to the IM client. Additionally, there is a Firefox extension to show Meebo in a Firefox sidebar.

For enhanced functionality you can elect to sign into a Meebo Room and you'll be able to have audio and video IM sessions as well as sharing files and web clips from Youtube and the like. Meebo Room sessions can be moderated as well to control content if the need arises. This would be a potential alternative to using Webex for a multi-session presentation or training with video/audio, especially within a company where you wanted an open forum for discussion about the presentation material.

Another very cool feature of Meebo is the Meebo Me widget that can be embedded into a web page to give you presence awareness to your page viewers, blog readers, etc. and allow them to IM you from the Meebo widget.

As an alternative to the popular installation-required multi-IM products like Pidgin, Trillian, Digsby and Miranda, it's one less application to deal with on the desktop.