Keeping up to date with friends online is far more than just exchanging messages with instant messaging software. There are websites such as Facebook to consider, all with frequent updates.

Digsby is at first glance an instant messaging client, but one that also comes with several tools for social networking online.

An account with Digsby is required so that all of the various settings and accounts can be synchronised between different computers.

It supports most IM accounts and can also read emails from Googlemail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, AOL or normal POP and IMAP accounts. Social networking sites supported are Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.

Updates are shown as pop-ups as well as in the main view.

Mac and Linux versions are due soon.