OS X Messages
Messages is a video, screen sharing, file transfer, and text-chat platform that ships with OS X 10.8. It supports multiple chat protocols such as AIM, Yahoo, Google Talk, and Jabber, as well as Apple's iMessages protocol. Despite this support, Messages appears to segregate each protocol, meaning that a user with an AIM account cannot communicate with a Yahoo user.
Communications
Weimar and San Diego tested video chat and file transfer using the AIM protocol. Performance was hit and miss. The best aspect was latency, with both sides agreeing that the timing of communications felt natural. Video quality was significantly different on each side: Weimar witnessed crisp imagery from San Diego, while San Diego consistently received blocky video dominated by artifacts.
Audio Signals
These are the audio signals.