iChat, one of the most popular instant messaging platforms for the mac, just added a new message platform to its portfolio. iChat users can now connect with their Facebook friends without navigating to facebook.com
Thanks to the development team at Facebook, you can now stay up to date with all your Facebook friends through Facebook Chat in iChat. Utilizing Jabber, the same Instant Messaging technology that powers google talk, Facebook Chat is now available on iChat and other instant messaging software clients.
Add Facebook Chat to iChat
If you’re interested in how to add Facebook to iChat follow the steps listed below:
- Open iChat and select “Preferences” from the iChat menu dropdown.
- Click the “Accounts” tab and then click the “+” at the bottom.
- Select “Jabber” from the drop-down menu and then enter the following info:
Screen Name: [yourfullusername]@chat.facebook.com
Password: [your Facebook password] - Click the arrow next to “Server Options” and enter the following server option information:
Server: chat.facebook.com
Port: 5222
(Uncheck the box labeled “Use SSL”)
Once you’ve finished the steps above, click the done button and your Facebook Chat list should open in iChat. It should be just a matter of seconds before your “always” available for your Facebook friends to reach out to your through iChat and instant message about the latest happenings.
If you’re not big on logging in to check on your Facebook updates, but like to quickly communicate with friends, this is a great way to keep in touch with people without all the distraction of Facebook status updates.
