When my team and I started using HipChat, I wasn't really sure what to expect (since every chat application prior to it seemed pretty much the same). I've foun

When my team and I started using HipChat, I wasn't really sure what to expect (since every chat application prior to it seemed pretty much the same). I've found these benefits: - Works on all of my devices. If someone @mentions me, it'll notify my phone just like a text message and/or email me (unless I disable that). And I can reply from my phone's hipchat client. - Chat rooms and 1-on-1 work seemlessly. Chat rooms can also be public or private. - History is persistent and searchable. - Sharing files is as easy as a click. Sharing screenshots/mockups/images is as easy as copy/paste (we use this a lot) - On the right-hand side of the chat room there is a list of all links & files shared in the room that you can easily search through. - You can have guest access in chat rooms. -It integrates with github and other services so that when we do certain things with our repository, it will notify one of our chat rooms. And a million other little things. There is no single feature that made me think "I must use HipChat, this is awesome.", but rather a bunch of minor things that "just worked" and fit nicely together into a great experience. It's worth every penny.