Trillian (instant messenger)

Trillian is a multi-protocol instant messaging application for Windows, created by Cerulean Studios that can connect from a single client to multiple services such as AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, Bonjour (known as RendezVous), Jabber/XMPP, and Skype networks (the last four with the PRO version that allows additional plugins).

Initially released in July 2000 as a freeware IRC client, the first commercial version (Trillian Pro 1.0) was released in September 2002. The creators have promised to continue support to keep the free (Basic) version, but keeping closed the code.

The show is named after Trillian, a character in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

Since version 3.0, Trillian uses Wikipedia to reference user-typed terms, using a feature called "Instant Lookup".

Trillian is extremely compatible, it has its own environment (very comfortable and easy to use), it is configurable through "skins", it supports the recording of input and output logs, use of emoticons and it has a system own icons to differentiate each of the contacts that are connected.

Appearance (Skins)

Both Trillian Basic and Pro versions make use of XML documents that define their appearance and behaviors through the SkinXML definition. Thus, you can vary the interface, the emoticons and the set of sounds. The various skins and games can be downloaded for free from their website, but they can also be developed by third parties. Thus, there is a community that develops skins on deviantART.

Plug-ins

Trillian is a closed source code application, but whose functionality can be extended thanks to plug-ins. Plug-ins created by Cerulean Studios include spell checker, weather forecast, email account control, Winamp integration, stock monitoring, and RSS reader. In addition, the Pro version allows, through plug-ins, the connection with XMPP and Bonjour networks. Others have also developed various plug-ins, such as games (for playing chess or checkers, for sending NetBIOS messages, for using Lotus Sametime, for using Microsoft Exchange, for email control as well as by POP3 protocol as by IMAP, or an automatic translator.There is also a Skype plug-in (only for instant messaging, not VoIP) that requires the previous installation of Skype in the system.

The plug-ins are available for free on the official Trillian website and on the Trillian members' plug-ins forum, but they work only with the Pro version of Trillian.

Instant lookup

Starting with version 3.0 in the basic and professional version, Trillian has made use of the English version of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia in real time (as of May 7, 2005), over 55200 articles. The feature is used directly within a user's chat window. When one or more words are entered (by any user), Trillian checks all words against a database file and if found, the word appears with a green dotted line. When the user points their mouse over the word, the corresponding article is downloaded from Wikipedia and displayed on the screen. When the user clicks on the underlined word, they are given the option to visit the article online.

Version History