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instant messaging Last modified: Friday, May 14, 2004

Abbreviated IM, a type of communications service that enables you to create a kind of private chat room with another individual in order to communicate in real time over the Internet, analagous to a telephone conversation but using text-based, not voice-based, communication. Typically, the instant messaging system alerts you whenever somebody on your private list is online. You can then initiate a chat session with that particular individual. See the page of text messaging abbreviations in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia.

AOL Instant Messenger Home page for AOL's Instant Messenger (AIM) system. You can download the free AIM software from here. Choosing an Instant Messaging System A series of articles covering the fundamentals of enterprise instant messaging and what you need to know as an IT decision-maker. Instant Messaging Can Usher in Instant Problems IT managers are being warned that IM is fast becoming a gateway for more attacks on the corporate network. Instant Messaging Planet Complete coverage of the business opportunities emerging from IM including case studies, security updates, and infrastructure issues. Instant Messaging Server Overview Fuzzy on the fundamentals of IM? This overview explains the pros and cons of taking what was initially designed as a personal app and implementing it across the enterprise. Yahoo! Messenger Home page for Yahoo!'s instant messaging system called Yahoo! Messenger. You can download the free software from here.