From Google Talk and Windows Live Messenger to Mxit and Facebook, it's impossible not to notice the impact that instant messaging (IM) has had on people.

The technology, which allows people to send messages to each other in real-time, has been around for quite a while but has exploded in recent years. We thought it would be a good idea to walk you through some of the best apps around.

On your computer...

Windows Live Messenger:

One of the most popular and widely used instant messengers, Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger is relatively easy to get into. Once you've downloaded the IM app, you simply need to register using your email address and you're set!

Windows Live Messenger allows you to play games against friends in the conversation window, as well as talk to Yahoo Messenger contacts without the need to register for a Yahoo account. It doesn't, however, offer as much inter-operatibility between other IM apps (such as Google Talk) as software like Pidgin and Digsby, and it's also fairly resource intensive.

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Google Talk:

Google's foray into instant messaging has resulted in an IM app that's easy to use and chock-full of features, without straining your system. Registering a Gmail account is needed before you can use it.

You're able to chat to your Google Talk contacts while in your Gmail browser, but on the downside there's very little choice when it comes to customisation, with few skins to choose from.

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An all-in-one experience

The above services' applications are great, but it's often more convenient to have all your instant messaging and social network contacts in one application and these few apps do just that...

Pidgin

Pidgin allows PC users to log into their MySpace IM, MSN, Yahoo, Windows Live, Novell Groupwise and QQ accounts and chat with their contacts. It is also compatible with Linux and Mac OS X. There is no need to register for an account with Pidgin, as you only need to enter your respective account details.

Variety is the key word when it comes to Pidgin, with many networks and operating systems being supported. It's rather bland though, so be prepared to download some themes. Also, you'll need to download a plug-in if you want to import your Mxit contacts.

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Digsby

Digsby, with its colourful logo, is another IM app that attempts to gather all contacts into one platform. Google Talk, Facebook, Myspace IM, AIM, Twitter, Windows Live and Yahoo are all supported, amongst others.

Digsby also supports email notifications. You'll only need to register at the Digbsy site in order to start chatting.

The email notification system means that you'll only have to log in to your Gmail, Hotmail or standard POP account when you really have to; while Twitter functionality is also another welcome feature.

The Mac and Linux versions are still in development unfortunately.

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Instant messengers for your phone...

There are instant messengers besides Mxit available for mobile phones and we've rounded up two of the best.

eBuddy:

Available on both the PC and various mobile phones, eBuddy is simple to use and allows you to chat to your Facebook, Google Talk, MSN and MySpace contacts amongst others.

Registration consists of going to the eBuddy site and creating an eBuddy ID. Once you've installed the app, you simply enter your login information for every network you'd like to use.

eBuddy runs on almost all phones and you can also use the eBuddy online client to connect to your account when you're at a computer.

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Fring:

Fring is yet another all-in-one mobile phone IM app, allowing you to even conduct Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calls and chat to a wide variety of contacts. Fring also supports roaming in and out of WiFi hotspots.

The VOIP functionality means that calling overseas is not an expensive endeavour anymore, but then Fring lacks the ability to be used from desktop computers like eBuddy.

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