fTalk

Getting in touch with buddies on various social networks mostly requires you to open up a web browser. However, applications like fTalk, a desktop chat client designed to replace the online Facebook chat utility and allow you to communicate with friends and acquaintances anywhere in the world, without opening your web browser.

The application automatically logins to your Facebook account and enables you to view all the online and offline friends. The interface relies on the same elements as any messenger client, displaying the contact list (where you can view who is online or offline), your user name and profile picture along with the option to update the status message.

You can initiate a private conversation with any of your friends or leave an offline message. Within the conversation window, you can send instant messages, start a video call, as well as visit the interlocutor's Facebook profile or browse the photo albums. The animated emoticons are designed to give a personal note to your conversations and make them funnier.

Your friends don't need to have fTalk installed on their computer to receive your messages, as the application automatically connects to the online Facebook chat.

fTalk can send you notifications when various events occur. For instance, each time a contact goes online or offline in Facebook chat, you are notified by a small window that appears near the system tray. You can also setup notifications for when a friend sends you a message and disable all the alerts when running full screen applications, in order to prevent work interruptions.

To protect your privacy, you have the option to remove the login details, saved profile pictures and the message history whenever you want.

All things considered, designed to open new possibilities of communication with your friends, this Facebook desktop client can help you stay in touch with your Facebook contacts and manage your personal profile easily without having to bring up a web browser.