Internet Audio communication for second language learning: a comparative review of six programs.

This review of Windows and Mac software - namely, AOL Instant Messenger (www.aim.com), Yahoo Messenger (messenger.yahoo.com), MSN & Windows Messenger (messenger.msn.com), PalTalk (www.paltalk.com), and iVisit (www.ivisit.com) - should be useful not only to people with an interest in learning new languages, but to anyone who's interested in videophoning or throwing multiparty conferences / happenings / what-have-you over the Net at low cost.

Note that the authors pay particular attention to how well each of these services solves the matchmaking problem - that is, putting people in contact who do not already know one another and might be interested in talking. Mileage does vary across tools. (See Alf Eaton's ridiculously easy thought sharing service for another take on this problem.)