"Instant messaging" is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text messages. "Instant messages" are sent via computers that are simultaneously active and connected to the Internet, or within an organization, to a local network.
Photo credit: Andrew Fishbitt
Instant messaging differs from traditional e-mail in the fact that communications can be sent and received instantly.
It is also true - though most instant messaging uses today ignore this fact - that instant messaging does not require those very messages to be always exchanged in real-time, in each and every situation.
That means, that as instant messengers will gradually become more familiar tools to a greater number of users, it will become increasingly common to use IM also for non-instantaneous/asynchronous communications.
While until today most instant messaging application have required the download and use of a dedicated client program we are now seeing the emergence of instant messaging tools that allow access to major instant messaging networks directly from any Internet connected web browser, PDA or mobile phone.
"In early instant messaging programs, each letter appeared as it was typed, and when letters were deleted to correct typos this was also seen in real time. This made it more like a telephone conversation than exchanging letters.
These services owe many ideas to an older (and still popular) online chat medium known as Internet Relay Chat (IRC).
In early instant messaging programs each character appeared as it was typed. The UNIX "talk" command shown in these screenshots was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s."(Source: Wikipedia)
In modern instant messaging programs, the other party in the conversation generally only sees each line of text right after a new line is started.
Most instant messaging systems allow the user to set an online status or away message, so peers get notified whenever the user is available, busy, or away from the computer.
On the other hand, people are not forced to reply immediately to incoming messages. This way, communication via instant messaging can be less intrusive than communication via phone, which is partly a reason why instant messaging is becoming more and more important in every day business and academic use.
What really characterizes instant messaging from other forms of text messaging applications is in fact the use of an indicator of "presence", which enables the user of an instant messaging applications to rendez-vous with his/her counterparties and see their availability status.
Instant messaging typically boosts communication and allows easy collaboration. In contrast to e-mails or phone, the parties know whether the peer is available.
The fact that instant messages typically get logged in a local message history closes the gap to the persistent nature of e-mails, facilitating quick, safe, and persistent exchange of information such as URLs of web pages which cannot be easily exchanged when on a telephone communication.
Photo credit: Andrew Fishbitt
Instant messaging differs from traditional e-mail in the fact that communications can be sent and received instantly.
It is also true - though most instant messaging uses today ignore this fact - that instant messaging does not require those very messages to be always exchanged in real-time, in each and every situation.
That means, that as instant messengers will gradually become more familiar tools to a greater number of users, it will become increasingly common to use IM also for non-instantaneous/asynchronous communications.
While until today most instant messaging application have required the download and use of a dedicated client program we are now seeing the emergence of instant messaging tools that allow access to major instant messaging networks directly from any Internet connected web browser, PDA or mobile phone.
"In early instant messaging programs, each letter appeared as it was typed, and when letters were deleted to correct typos this was also seen in real time. This made it more like a telephone conversation than exchanging letters.
These services owe many ideas to an older (and still popular) online chat medium known as Internet Relay Chat (IRC).
In early instant messaging programs each character appeared as it was typed. The UNIX "talk" command shown in these screenshots was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s."(Source: Wikipedia)
In modern instant messaging programs, the other party in the conversation generally only sees each line of text right after a new line is started.
Most instant messaging systems allow the user to set an online status or away message, so peers get notified whenever the user is available, busy, or away from the computer.
On the other hand, people are not forced to reply immediately to incoming messages. This way, communication via instant messaging can be less intrusive than communication via phone, which is partly a reason why instant messaging is becoming more and more important in every day business and academic use.
What really characterizes instant messaging from other forms of text messaging applications is in fact the use of an indicator of "presence", which enables the user of an instant messaging applications to rendez-vous with his/her counterparties and see their availability status.
Instant messaging typically boosts communication and allows easy collaboration. In contrast to e-mails or phone, the parties know whether the peer is available.
The fact that instant messages typically get logged in a local message history closes the gap to the persistent nature of e-mails, facilitating quick, safe, and persistent exchange of information such as URLs of web pages which cannot be easily exchanged when on a telephone communication.
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