I noticed that too. Now you have to mouse over the person's picture and a box will appear with some buttons, and you can click on the "chat" button. I haven't tried it yet so I don't know anything more about it.

is that your favourite?i think italki chat is not good to use sometimes,i prefer to find friends here then practice with them on skype.

Are you saying you can't find the Italki chat system, or a chat language partner? Is the Italki system giving you problems?