LAN messengers

local instant messaging program

is a LAN messenger service developed by Nintendo. It is preloaded on the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite and Nintendo DSi. Up to sixteen people can paint and/or text chat with each other using it, connected wirelessly through a LAN-only, system-to-system wireless connection. It allows for simple input of keyboard text and written text/drawings. PictoChat received an Excellence Prize for Entertainment at the 2004 Japan Media Arts Festival.

BORGChat is a LAN messaging software program. It has achieved a relative state of popularity and it is considered to be a complete LAN chat program. It has been superseded by commercial products which allow voice chat, video conferencing, central monitoring and administration. An extension called "BORGVoice" adds word producing chat capabilities to BORGChat, the extension remains in alpha stage.