HT2020 Can I download iChat when I have the new mountain lion update?

Question

I downloaded the new mountain lion, but I cannot figure out how to download iChat. Is it possible to download iChat?

Answer 1

Hi,
Most of the Major IM services (AIM, Jabber, MSN/Live and Yahoo) do not allow cross over.
i.e. you need and AIM account (Screen Name) to chat to other AIM Screen Names or a Jabber ID to talk to jabber  Buddies and so on.
Apps such as AduimX and ProteusX have long had the ability at least for text chats to have all your Messaging Accounts in one app.
iChat was originally AIM only (well, in addition to Bonjour - then called Rendezvous)
In iChat 3 Jabber was added (a bit of work was needed to get GoogleTalk to work)
iChat 4 added a separate option to Add Google accounts as well as Jabber.
iChat 6 adds the Yahoo option.
At Messages 7 (numbers continue but the name changes) adds iMessages to the other four methods/Accounts.
Messages is an App that can allow you to access 4 external Services and one LAN Based one.
Much like Mail can access many external Email accounts.
Whereas emails are fairly standard that web based and App based version can read/display emails created in a multitude of apps the Messeging sdie of thinsg has never got that far.
Adium and Proteus have used Backward engineering in a lot of what they do to be able to join as many type of service as they do.
iMessages can be sent to iPhone Numbers (that have been registered (enabled on the iPhones) for iMessages) or to Apple IDs that may be in use on Macs running Messages or iPhones and other iOS devices that may be using Apple IDs or iPhone Numbers (as you can link them).
Bonjour can be sent to other Macs on your LAN that have iChat or Messages with the Bonjour account Enabled.
It takes your name from your Address Card and broadcasts this as your Buddy Name in their Buddy lists.
(you see their Address Book Name).
AIM does have it's own registration site.
However Apple originally made an Agreement with AIM when iChat started out and any Apple Issued ID is still valid (there are exceptions)
Any @mac.com whether Paid For Trial or a Lapsed account counts.
Any iCloud Issued @me.com and @icloud.com IDs work if you keep the Password to the 16 character AIM server limit.
Any MobileMe issued @me.com that has lapsed will not work.
These newer iCloud linked IDs can not be used in iChat 5 or earlier due to the way the later apps login and Check the password (you login to Apple AND AIM to confirm access to the password).
Jabber is a lose collection of separate severs that can be what is called Federated.
This allow Buddies from Other servers to be added to your list and fro your to be able to Contact them.
Google (with a Google Mail ID and Talk enabled in your Account settings)  is a Jabber server
Facebook (Enable Chat and use the new Chat ID) is also a Jabber server.
This is the most extensive server list I know of.
It also highlight which sort of Transports a server may be using.
Transports offer a way of linking to other services within  a Jabber account (Instructions)
Yahoo is text only within Messages and iChat 6
Whilst Yahoo themselves made an agreement with MSN that MSN/Live IDs could be used over the Yahoo network you cannot use one in The Yahoo option in Messages/iChat 6.  It has to be a Yahoo registered ID.
Video
AIM and Jabber accounts can Video to other Macs running Messages or iChat (ver 3 and above for Jabber)
If you have enough Internet speed for Video then you can Audio Chat and Screen Share with these Accounts
Bonjour will also Audio Only or Video chat to those LAN based macs
Yahoo does not do Video.
iMessages will invoke FaceTime if you use the Video icon during a conversation.
It is fair to say that Google, Facebook and AIM all offer ways to now add Buddies from the Other Services.
It is best if you use the web based method to do this but they should appear in the Buddy lists.
If all your people were using iChat before you do not  need to enable the iMessages account in Messages.
You can make do with the AIM (valid) Screen Name or Jabber ID that you were using before.
My Messages > Preferences > Account looks like this (Mavericks)
I have set an AIM account to a non identifiable pane.
The Window Menu list looks like this (see the General section on Unlinking them)
I used the Jabber.me server as it offered Transports that could then be used by other Jabber servers.
This meant I could add Buddies from MSN linked this way to my Google Buddy list.
I display the Buddy Lists all the time like in iChat and my Desktop looks like this
I hope this helps
9:09 pm      Sunday; January 26, 2014
  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad