Apple has updated the OSX with a new Developer Preview called “Mountain Lion”. They appear to be merging iOS technologies with OSX and making the whole Apple experience consistent across all devices.
One of those technologies is Messages. Which essentially replaces iChat. Well, not really replaces, just renames it and updates it’s version number. When I open the Messages.app contents, the app’s binary is still called iChat.

Messages Beta for OSX
What they have done here, though, is continue the iChat multi-protocol support of AIM, GTalk, Yahoo and Jabber and also coupled it with the iMessage capability that iPhone has as of iOS 5. Allowing for cross-device communication without the need of texting services.
I can now essentially message the wife from my computer and she will get it on her phone. Much easier as I am developing and I get a text from her on my computer rather than my phone.
It also updates all the devices with the conversation that has taken place.
There is still a few bugs to work out. One is that iMessage on the iOS does not handle multiple contact information for one person. It will sometimes create a new message view on the iOS with the same name. I’m hoping Apple corrects this flaw and makes the Messages app on iOS smarter in combining those views into one view.
But thus far, it has replaced my Adium app on my MacBook.
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