7. Meebo Me

What do you mean by the word “meebo”? No relation to an amoeba, actually. According to Meebo co-founder Sandy Jen, the company's three founders brainstormed over lunch one day. They were looking for a two-syllable name without prior associations that would be easy to remember and spell. Back at the office, they ran each of the 50 possibilities through a browser and eliminated all but a handful because they already were taken. Meebo emerged as the winner.

Difference between Meebo and Meebo Me.

Meebo is an online instant messaging application that is conveniently accessible from a web browser instead of typical software downloads and connects the most popular IM services in one place, including Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, and Facebook. Meebo is also young, free, and savvy and experiencing a tremendous growth spurt.  Meebo lets you access and chat with any or all of your instant messaging buddies from anywhere in the world. Beyond just IM options, Meebo Me to add chat to your own Web site.

Meebo Me lets you chat with anyone who comes to your blog or Web page. Visitors show up in your Meebo buddylist so you can strike up a conversation, answer questions, or just keep tabs on guests. Publish your online status so friends can see if you're available when they visit your site.

Getting Started with Meebo

Getting started with Meebo is easy, beginning with the account set-up and Meebo sign in. Once that's accomplished, you're ready to IM or visit one of the Meebo rooms.

Setting Up a Meebo Account

1.    Go to Meebo, and click on the Meebo box at the far right.

2.    Click "Sign up" to open the registration window. You must be at least 13 years old to use Meebo. If Meebo hears from a reliable source that you're younger, your account will be terminated.

3.    Type in an ID name and password. Type the same password again after "Confirm," and click "Next."

4.    On the next screen, type your full name (which will not be shared) and e-mail address (used only to send lost passwords). Provide gender and age, if you want, and click "Create Meebo Account."

5.    In the New Connection box, choose your IM network (for example, AIM or Yahoo), give your screen name and password for that network, and hit "Sign On." Friends from that network will be added to your Meebo list. You can add your IM networks and access buddies from all of them simultaneously. You can use Meebo without creating an account by signing into one of the listed IM networks, but you won't be able to IM with friends using other networks.

Go to Meebo and sign on. You can check "Sign in as invisible" to be online but appear offline to your buddies.

To sign off, click "Sign Off" at the bottom of the buddy list.

Activity:

1.    Get your own Meebo Account.