Re: Text based synchronous communication tool for Linux?

Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> writes:

I have faint memories on a communication tool that I think have used
on a DEC VAX under VMS in the 1980's. Unlike the common modern tools
like chat systems or SMS exchange on mobile phones it didn't operate
line-wise or message-wise, but rather (synchronous) character-wise.
And I think it was a tool usable only to connect people on the same
system (but I'm not sure about that). I thought its name would have
been 'talk' but searching the web led me to a document "VMS Phone
Utility Manual"[*] which describes such a tool (it's actually called
'phone') and it seems to be what I still remember about the tool I'm
looking for.
>
Some characteristics I'd prefer - not all supported by the 'phone'
utility - are that it's
 * text-oriented (preferably with Unicode support), fast (no GUI)
 * instantly/synchronously exchanging any typed characters
    * optionally: switching modes (instant/character-wise, line-wise)
 * more than two persons can communicate
 * works across distributed [Unix-]systems
>
Is there such a tool (free of charge and open source) available for
Linux? (Or something that comes close?)

ytalk would fit the requirements, I think, but it’s been abandonware
for the last couple of decades.

--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/