06.28.08
IM stands for Instant Messaging
One of the most popular communication services used via the Internet is Instant Messaging. In general, Instant Messaging or IM facilitates people to communicate in real-time over any distance through the Internet connection. In IM, people are communicating using text-messages delivered via the Internet connection and the messages are displayed on a chat window on their computer screen. In instant messaging conversation, the participants are seeing each unit of their message as soon as the texts are typed (and sent), and both of the participants are alerted to whether someone is typing a message or not. In short, IM can be described as a real time electronic conversation that takes place in Internet via communication technology.
As a real-time communication device, IM allows its users to have a ‘present’ and ‘real’ communication over distance with any other person, who is online. The use of IM can save money, since IM can immediately deliver countless messages to people all over the world free of charge. Moreover, IM services allow the creation of a constant connection over many hours. It means that the users of IM can create a virtual space in which communications can be advanced at any time. Presently, there are some popular instant messaging services on the Internet, such as ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, Meebo, and others.