Money: Power Chat

The latest version of Yahoo Messenger makes instant messaging more than just talk. For starters, the free program lets you customize your appearance online by designing your avatar: choose a hairstyle, a body type, even sunglasses to create a special look. When you launch your friends list, you can view news headlines, sports updates, stock prices or your calendar in the same window. You can also easily access games directly in Yahoo Messenger. And if you like to listen to music while you chat, just log on to Yahoo's Launchcast online radio service. With a single click, you can broadcast the channel to your friends so they can tune in as well. --By Anita Hamilton