Instant Messaging - Why is going through Google chat?

Question

HI There,
I have upgraded to mountain lion on both my imac and macbook pro. I logged into the instant messaging today and I signed in with my apple ID, but then it used google chat to talk to people? I have anoher mac user who messages me and she said she uses it through the mac network. Im confused?
When I logged out of gmail. I went back to the chat and I couldnt chat anymore
Can someone more technical help me clarify?

Answer 1

Hi,
On first run Messages asks you for an Apple ID.
It does not have to be linked to iCloud.
However it does generally mean you could be using an @mac.com @me.com or @icloud.com  that is linked to iCloud.
As Apple IDs with these endings are also Valid AIM Screen Names you can use the Messages > Preferences > Accounts pane > + icon under the list to Add them as AIM names.
(1 Name 2 services)
If your Apple ID is an external email such as  GoogleMail one then it too can be an Active Jabber ID is Messages (if you enable "Talk" on your Account settings at Google).
Potentially again 1 name 2 services.
Of course as some of these are emails they appear in System Preferences > Mail, Contacts and Calendars and can be Enabled for Messages there.
However deleting an Account in Messages (Hit the - icon in the accounts list fro anything other than the iMesssages or Bonjour one) should "deactivate" it in the Mail, Contacts and Calendars pane.  (As should just unticking the "Enable this Account box").
So....
Your Apple ID can be used for iMessages.
It may also be able to be the Name or ID for another service as well.
Accounts should be able to be Disabled in both the app  (Preferences > Accounts) and in System Preferences > Mail, Contacts and Calendars.
If you have an Apple ID that you then linked to iCloud like I did you may have the following:-
An external email that is the original Apple ID that allows access to your iCloud stuff.
An @me.com name that your were given at the initial launch of iCloud
And a Later @icloud.com one as well.
All three with the set password allow access to iCloud.
For iMessages they are separate IDs  (it will try to link them like crazy if you have a second iPhone like I do and want to keep them separate)
For AIM they are considered as separate IDs.
Aside from making sure you understand the names and IDs that can be used with which services there odd occasions that are reported when the App will list telephone numbers Only and tell all existing chats lists in the main window are Bonjour Chats as you cycle through all  of them.
Other people have reported loss of Names in the Chat listing and one particular service being listed at the "service" that it will be on.  (I have seen threads list AIM and Jabber).
The "Bonjour" chat ones seems to be solved by doing a PRAM reset
Shut down the computer.
Restart it holding down Apple/CMD ( or ⌘)+ALT( ⌥)+P+R Keys until you have heard three Start Up Bongs.
The others seem to be linked to the Contacts App not list a My Card.
Your Details should appear at the My Card (Head and Shoulders icon)
If they do not use the Card Menu in the Contacts app to reset it.
9:15 PM      Monday; July 1, 2013
  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously