Out of game chat

I like talking to my coalition members and other friends when i can't just sit here and play a game, so how about having the same kind of chat system that we have now without having to having to sign into the "open games" screen? maybe an application to download or in the forums have a chat system?

Im not understanding the issue with just sitting in the lobby. If you dont want anyone else to know you are on just create a private game and just sit there instead.

Or just use skype or google, not that hard to ask "do you have google talk or skype?"

More pages and applications = more ram. and say i just or a mod just wants to lurk the forum and only play when a friend is on to have that chat thing. idk just an idea.