.

[tidy]

.

 

[sandorski]

Is it one to one or groups you are wanting?

 

[tidy]

.

 

[sandorski]

One to one.

I have only ever used Facebook's video calling and it works great. Although the caller was using video and i just audio. There was no delay though, caller was using a Phone and I my PC. Quality of video and audio was excellent.

 

[shimpster]

Messenger

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.orca&hl=en

 

[Commodus]

Gonna echo Facebook Messenger. It supports all the platforms you want, it works properly on tablets and browsers and has the usual voice and video calling features. The only uncertainty for me is custom notification sounds, but I'd give those up if it meant having good cross-platform support.

Edit: 1,500th post!

 

[cronos]

I don't know when was the last time you tried Telegram, but maybe you need to try again, as some features may have changed/improved. For me Telegram is the most convenient and powerful messaging program and by far is my most preferred one. The two-step verification thing is true, though obviously just the first time around you connected a client (either mobile or desktop), but it's kind of needed since unlike Hangouts, Telegram can't piggyback on Google's authentication, similar with Facebook Messenger piggybacking on Facebook (both of which are likely already on your devices, and therefore no need for additional authentication). So maybe you'd want to try it again and see how it's like now. It doesn't have voice or video calling, though, if it's something that you need.

Having said that, I'd have to also suggest Facebook Messenger like everyone else above. It really is a superb messaging app, and I believe it will cover all your needs.

 

[tidy]

.

 

[sbpromania]

* Whatsapp
* Slack

 

[Megatomic]

Facebook Messenger again. Works so well.

 

[Oyeve]

Is Tango still around? I used to use that before hangouts came out.

 

[core2slow]

Does anyone know if viber requires a phone present to log into the desktop and browser versions? It appears to require one for initial setup of an account, and uses a phone number as the login ID, but will it need a text code or QR code?

I use viber pretty religiously on the windows desktop, ipad and my android devices (phone and tablets) and they only need the phone number for the initial setup like you said and nothing else after that.

 

[sonitravel09]

If you dont care about AIM, Xabber works well with Google Talk. I am not sure if it uses push or polling, but once you log off and exit the app, the app is actually closed! which is a lot more than those other crappy apps like twitter etc. can say. However if you are logged off you wont be shown online of course and wont get notifications.