High hopes

Meebo, an instant message service aggregator, is harnessing outside applications to improve its hosted chat experience.

Today the company will debut about 20 online games, free for distribution and collaborative use amongst Meebo community members.

Last month the company opened its platform to voice and video chat services.

While voice and video chat has existed for some time on services like Skype and iChat, Meebo's intention is to encourage collaboration alongside real-time communication.

In theory, the model extends beyond games and could conceivably yield a hosted platform where users shop online together or share other experiences.

The games will be provided by 14 gaming companies: Kongregate, 3rd Sense, Absolutist, AddictingGames, BladeSix, Clearspring Technologies, Come2Play, Gamebrew, MediaGreenhouse, Mochi Media, Jiggmin, PlayFirst, Presidio Media, and ZeroCode.

"Historically, games were primarily a social activity. It's only since video games became popular that game playing by yourself took up a significant amount of playing time," said CEO Jim Greer of Kongregate.

"But if you look at the way people played games hundreds of years ago, it was social. Online activity is taking games back to the original function in human society."

Meebo currently serves 6.5 million members. It is currently seeking applications-enriching funding via embedded advertising.

Revenue garnered will be shared with developers.