How can I speak to SL friends without logging in with client?

I heard it's possible to speak to SL friends without logging into the SL client. I searched around and found this "SL-im", however apparently it is not released yet. Another one is "SLiteChat", but I didn't find too many results on this and I'm not sure about entering my password into this program. Are there any confirmed programs for chatting to friends outside of SL?

You can do a one-way IM with Zonkster. Also, you can enable forwarding IM's to email and when the email with the IM arrives you have a certain amount of time in which you can reply to the email and it will go to the sender via IM (I've done this from my cell phone using mobile email). It's not "real time" but good for just getting a message to someone in world.

You can also use METAbolt .... you have two way chat, it's great to use at the office, plus you can even see your inventory and group chats. here's the url

when using metabolt and SLeek, your avatar does log inworld, you just can't see it.

There are people who set up proxy schemes with bots or scripted devices to do this, and there's hacks to let you log in using a simpler program than the full SL client, but there's no way supported by Linden Labs. Their attempt to use a modified Vivox client that requires your friends also use the modified client is appalling.

on the iphone you can use SPARKLE. Your avatar logs in as a ghost and you can chat and pay folks.

Does SPARKLE actually connect to SL's servers or does it work through a proxy like Ajax Life does? If it's using a proxy you're technically in violation of the SL ToS because you've given your password to a third party.

Is the SLim viewer project dead? I haven't heard anything recent. That was officially supported by LL.

That's their appalling attempt to use a completely separate IM protocol that you need to be running a special client for that STILL won't work through most reasonably secure firewalls.

Has anyone here tried using GnomiVerse yet?

From they're site:

* Within a single Chat platform, import your friends that use MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, GoogleTalk and ICQ in a single chat interface
* Chat with Second Life friends in the game at the same time you communicate with your friends in the outside world, even when you are not inside the Second Life game
* Share music, photos and files with others. No more cutting and pasting from your address book every time you want to share files.
* Ability to group chat and create specialized chat channels
* Real-time notification of where your friends are online
* Voice over IP (VoIP) with other GnomiChat users
* RSS feed

(and i found someone who may or may not be working for them who posted a reply in they're forums mentioning that an SL Inventory feature is planned as well.)

I haven't used this myself, as i generally don't find myself in need of such a thing. but i am curious as to how well it works.

The SLim viewer is not made to send IMs inworld in any sensible way. It is an extremely bizarre sidecar that you add on to a special viewer. It provides an additional way of sending IMs when you are already inworld.

To use it you must:

1. Download a special viewer and use it to connect to SL.
2. Download the SLim client
3. Create an account with a third-party voice provider, even if you don't use voice

Then, you log into SL as you usually do (but through the special client). At that point, you can use SLim to send IMs to friends who also have SLim, but not to anyone else.

It doesn't make any sense, but that's the beauty of it.

It isn't useful, it doesn't solve any problem or make things easier -- it's just pure technology for the hell of it.

I think we should all just sign up as [email]firstname.lastname.sl@gmail.com[/email] and use google talk, at least that would be consistent and more functional than slim.