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Paltalk Messenger streamlines communication by putting instant messages, video chats, voice calls, and SMS all into a single user interface. While it may not be the most user-friendly program out there, it's certainly one of the more powerful.
If you've used an IM client like Trillian or Pidgin, then Paltalk's interface should feel familiar, with its vertical towerlike orientation, list of contacts, and status bar. The difference is that Paltalk does a lot more than those programs do--which is good. So, in addition to the typical IM contact list, there's a Chat Room panel, as well as a Phone & SMS panel, which lets you make voice calls and send texts. The problem is that using all of Paltalk's features is not always intuitive. The program has tons of drop-down menus, icons, and tabs cluttering each window, and very few explanations of functions. Also, watch out for the promotional content that Paltalk often serves up. For instance, I got messages telling me to Like Paltalk on Facebook, join specific chat rooms, and upgrade to a paid version. And then there's the Paltalk Today and Paltalk Notifier windows that sometimes make appearances. It can get a bit annoying, to say the least.
The Basic (free) version of Paltalk is ad-supported (banners) and comes with five texts and 100 voice call minutes (within the US and other select countries), all for free. For more texts or voice minutes, you'll have to pay on a per-use basis. In addition, you can upgrade your account to a Plus, Extreme, or VIP tier to get more features.
Paltalk's wide selection of chat rooms and active user community is among its best attributes. You can jump into G (general), R (rated-R), or A (adult) chat rooms, or create one of your own. Unfortunately, if you're on the free version of Paltalk, video in chat rooms is pretty much useless, since you only get a quick 10-second taste of Webcam functionality before it shuts off and asks you to upgrade. But what's great is you can video chat within a private message window, even with multiple participants. Also, there's a feature called SuperIM, which lets non-Paltalk users chat with you.
While Paltalk is certainly a versatile communications tool with tons of features, I think it's biggest strength is its chat. If you're interested in exploring chat rooms--public or private--or exchanging video instant messages with friends, I highly recommend you check this program out.
Publisher's Description
From A.V.M. Software:
Paltalk is the world's largest video chat community, with over 4 million members. The free Paltalk download includes:
Access to thousands of live video chat rooms. Room categories include music, politics, sports, religion and many more. Unlimited group video calls with up to 10 friends. Virtual Gifts--fun animations that can be sent to other members in a chat room. Interoperability with AIM, Yahoo, Facebook, GTalk and ICQ--IM with all your friends from Paltalk.
What's new in this version: Version 10.2 now supports 17 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Filipino, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Vietnamese.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 886 votes
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Current version:
3.5 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-4 of 4
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"Paltalk is the number-one voice, video, and text chat"
Version: Paltalk Messenger 10.2
Pros
There are hundreds of fully moderated voice, video, and text chat rooms; on hundreds of topics like christianity, politics, general topics, and X-rated adult chat rooms.
Cons
It requires a yearly subscription to remove the ads.
Summary
Next to Google+ Hangouts; Paltalk is the number-one voice, video, and text chat software available.
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"Looking for chat and cam conversations with others."
Version: Paltalk Messenger 10.2
Pros
Paltalk has a great way to allow people to chat and cam at the same time without being booted out by the system.
Cons
I don't like the little time they give you to see another chatter's cam before it closes the cam.
Summary
Great software, I will try it for a while with the free version but may not stay with paltalk very long.
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"YOU have to pay for best features"
Version: Paltalk Messenger 10.2
Pros
has lots of services and features but
Cons
you have to pay when yahoo was free
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"Whatever you are looking for on chat is here."
Version: Paltalk Messenger 10.2
Pros
Plenty of chat rooms ranging from politics, music, adult oriented,etc. Disruptive people who is only there to annoy people do get booted from rooms as compared to Yahoo. Ability to view cams without asking for permission as opposed to Yahoo.
Cons
Free version has ads in which some are infected with trojan horses and viruses. Paid version has no ads.
Summary
I read reviews where people complain about Paltalk on issues such as admins bouncing and banning folks. As long as you treat people with respect and have the ability to follow simple rules that are posted. If you gonna harass , pester or insult people then you might have trouble staying in most rooms unless it's a insult or drama chatroom. Chatrooms have owners who started the room or paid money to have a room that has a larger member capacity then allowed. The rules vary from chatroom to chatroom depending if its rated G, R, or Adult and its individual owner. Adult rooms has a warning that that they may contain content inappropriate for members under the age of 18 and prohibits members under 18 from entering. Some rooms seem stupid such as no underlines on text but if you don't like it you are free to start your own room in which you can make the rules as you please. Sometimes people and personalities clash as expected in chatrooms and they are warned to stop and take it to a private instant message. They usually are hardheaded and don't listen then they are bounced even though one or both parties may think they were in the right. The reason is most people come here to have fun and have a good time and didn't come there to be bothered with stupid drama from these people. They do have rooms specifically for people who like drama and conflict called drama rooms in which anything goes. Nicknames have different colors depending if its free (color black) or what level of paid subscription(blue, green,purple or yellow) it is. You can buy virtual gifts if you want to give to another if that is your thing.There's usually between 25 and 45 thousand members in paltalk and its various chat rooms at any giving time. I use to believe maybe it was only maybe 2 to 3 thousand members at any given time until i did an actual count and counted up to 36,000 members before i tired and gave up 75 percent though the count. From the numbers i counted Paltalk is especially huge overseas internationally. Overall it is a very good program.
Actually i counted 36,000 members halfway though before i tired and gave up so Paltalk number of 85,466 members in 5,105 room may be correct.
Updated on Nov 11, 2012
Results 1-4 of 4
