Most mobile clients only allow you to use a few of the features from their desktop counterparts, which sometimes make them relatively pointless endeavors. Sometimes users resort to the actual mobile web versions of apps, since they may work better than native apps on occasion. Unfortunately, IRC can't be used on the web via an Android device (yet), so a full-featured client is necessary. This is where AndChat comes in and saves the day. This app really sets itself apart from the competition by offering full desktop-like functionality, for free!

The app itself has a laundry list of features that are definitely set up to impress anyone who wants to get on IRC. Are your friends scattered across different networks? No problem, AndChat has you covered with multi-server support. Just open the app, press Menu and then you can add a library of servers for your chatting enjoyment. Worried about security? AndChat also offers password encryption to ease your cyber-paranoia.

Features of this app don't stop there, of course. You can also keep track of when people were talking in the chat log by enabling timestamps. And if you type something out and need to re-send it for someone else to see, you can scroll up with your trackball or d-pad and send it again without having to key it in all over. When you don't want to miss anything your friends say, you can also enable nick-highlighting (highlights your username) and audio/vibrating alerts when someone mentions you.

Other hidden features include the text-resizing capability (which spans across all screens), and the userlist for channels. When you go into the userlist from the channel menu, you can press and hold on someone's name to send a message, or just click the name once and hit enter to say the name in chat. For people with difficult ascii-character names, this can be pretty useful!

So if you're looking for an Android IRC client to take with you, it really doesn't get any better than AndChat.

AndChat info

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Platform: Android

Price: Free

Developer: Al. R.

Website/Demo: AndChat

Download AndChat from the Android Market by searching for the app name, or by scanning the following QR code with your phone: