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When you really want to stay in touch over a long distance, a simple phone call or voice chat pales in comparison to a face-to-face video chat. You can look your long-distance significant other in the eyes while you talk; your parents can watch their grandkid grow up; and under the right circumstances, video chat can also be an excellent tool for work-related calls and collaboration. The question is, what tools should you be using to get the most out of your calls? Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite video chat applications, and today we're back with the five most popular answers. Keep reading for a closer look at the best video chat tools, then cast your vote for the one you love best.

Google Video Chat (Web-based, Windows/Mac OS X)
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Google launched video chat inside Gmail earlier this week, and already it's become a popular option for video chat (that's the power of the GOOG!). Its quick popularity is in no small part thanks to its seamless integration with Gmail—if you've already got a Gmail account, using it is kind of a no-brainer. You will need to install a free plug-in to get started with Google's video chat, but this one works no matter what operating system you're using. Video chat integration isn't yet available on all accounts, but if it hasn't already, it should be coming to a Gmail account near you very soon.
TokBox (Web-based, Supports all platforms)
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TokBox is a web-based video chat application. Apart from its standard homepage, where you can login and initiate video chats with anyone through your web browser, TokBox has made its name by integrating with other services. For example, you can install the TokBox for Facebook Firefox extension to start quick video calls with any of your Facebook friends. Likewise, if you're a fan of online instant messaging application Meebo, you can start a video chat from a Meebo IM session using TokBox. If you'd prefer a desktop component, TokBox also has an Adobe AIR desktop app available on their homepage.
Skype (Windows/Mac/Linux)
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Skype is a popular VoIP application capable of making PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone calls; as long as you've got a webcam, any PC-to-PC call can instantly become a video chat. With the release of Skype 4.0 Beta on Windows, video chat on Skype has been bigger and better than ever. Skype's cross-platform compatibility and generally smooth video are the key elements that keep users coming back to Skype for their video chat needs.

iChat (Mac OS X)
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iChat is the default instant messaging application bundled with Mac OS X. iChat boasts multi-user video chat (up to 4 people at once), iChat Theater for sharing and viewing files during a video chat, and a Backdrops feature that allows users to customize what's behind them (e.g., you're in Paris). The downer: iChat is only available on OS X.
Vsee (Windows only)
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Vsee is a free Windows videoconferencing application. In addition to VSee's straight up video chat options, it's also designed as a collaboration tool. So, as their demo video explains, you could collaborate with a colleague on a Photoshop document (even if that person doesn't have Photoshop installed) through screen sharing, and you can share that file (or any document, for that matter) by dragging the file onto your chat video. VSee Free supports video chats with up to four people simultaneously, while the paid version supports up to eight at a time.
Now that you've seen the best as chosen by your peers, it's time to vote for your favorite.
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Which Is the Best Video Chat Application?( surveys)
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This week's honorable mentions go out to Meebo and Digsby, both of which support video chat through the above-mentioned TokBox. Whether or not your fave made the short list, tell us more about the video chat app you love in the comments.

One of the most popular and customizable third-party clients in the multiservice chat category for Mac continues to impress. It supports multiple services, including AIM, Yahoo, MSN, Facebook, Windows Live, and Google Chat. Part of what made the original Adium so attractive was the multitude of IM service options, and that still forms the core appeal of this client. The interface is smooth and lean, fitting in well with the Mac OS. The client supports tabbed browsing, encrypted messaging, and you can transfer files to your buddies, though it can be hit or miss depending on what service you're using.
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Recent updates have improved cross-service support (both in terms of security and performance), and the app continues to offer extensive options for customization, with a wide range of sounds, themes, colors, and other tweaks--including support for Growl, if you want to keep up with chats when you're not in Adium. Under the hood, the program shares the same open-source core as multiplatform client Pidgin.
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Overall, despite some file-sharing quirks, Adium X is a must-download for those looking to connect with multiple services. If you've been looking for a chat client that plays nice with other chat services, Adium is an excellent choice on the Mac.