The British company Palringo has announced a free Windows Mobile chat client offering single sign-on access to multiple instant messaging (IM) networks. In addition to text messages, the eponymous "Palringo" client also lets users exchange pictures and voice messages for free, the company says.

(Click here for a larger view of Palringo)

Palringo supports IM networks that include AIM, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, Gadu Gadu, ICQ, Jabber, and Windows Live Messenger. After logging in, the phone user enjoys access to all their IM accounts via an integrated contact list, the company says.

Palringo's offering is hardly the first Windows Mobile chat client aimed at unifying multiple IM accounts. Earlier offerings include Mundu, Mobile IM, Raketu, and Fring, some of which also throw in VoIP calling capabilities.

Compared to placing a phone call, voice IMs are less intrusive, while still letting the speaker's voice be heard, the company says. And, since it neither makes voice calls nor uses SMS (simple messaging service), the application is free for those with unlimited data plans, says Palringo. Another touted feature is one-to-many distribution of text, voice, or photos to multiple users simultaneously.

In addition to running on Windows Mobile 2003, 5.0, and 6.0, Palringo is offered for Windows 2000, XP, and Vista desktops. A script allowing Linux users to run it via WINE is available, as is an alpha version for Macintosh OS X (Leopard only). The program also runs under Java and on Symbian S60-based phones.

The above versions are available now from the Palringo website, here.