A form of text communication where an individual types and sends the text to a user on another computer.

The ability to easily see whether a chosen friend or co-worker is connected to the Internet and, if they are, to exchange messages with them. Instant messaging differs from ordinary e-mail in the immediacy of the message exchange and also makes a continued exchange simpler than sending e-mail back and forth. Most exchanges are text-only. However, some services allow attachments.

Instant Messaging is the ability to see if a chosen friend, co-worker, or associate is connected to the Internet and if they are, you are then able to exchange "real time" messages with them.

Text-based conversations in real time.

a method of users communicating one-to-one or in groups over the standard IP protocol. Users can assemble "buddy lists" and chat with friends, family and colleagues.

One of the fastest growing applications on the Internet, instant messaging provides the ability to identify someone who is on-line and send and receive messages with them in near real-time. More spontaneous than e-mail, IM allows frequent Internet users the ability to surf the web and work while conducting real-time text conversations with friends and co-workers on-line.

Real-time, online Email -- more like a chat really.

Edit / IM - A way for two people to type messages back and forth to each other in real time over the Internet. There are many different types of IM including YIM (Yahoo), AIM (AOL) and IIM (ICQ). As of late, IM has been extended to work on cell phones. This is sometimes called text chat to denote that the conversation is typed instead of spoken. See Also: Chat

A service that alerts users when friends or colleagues are on line and allows them to communicate with each other in real time through private online chat areas. With instant messaging, a user creates a list of other users with whom he or she wishes to communicate; when a user from his or her list is on line, the service alerts the user and enables immediate contact with the other user. While instant messaging has primarily been a proprietary service offered by Internet service providers such as AOL and MSN, businesses are starting to employ instant messaging to increase employee efficiency and make expertise more readily available to employees.

An instant messaging program is one that can instantly send messages from one computer to another by means of small ‘pop-up' windows. They are a form of ‘instant email' and are very popular with students and adults alike.

Instant Messaging (IM) is a service or tool that alerts a user when friends or colleagues — referred to as buddies — are available online. IM also allows the user to send immediate, private, one-to-one messages to buddies who are available. Popular IM services include AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. These services use proprietary protocols and require a separate account for each service. Because of the proprietary protocols, users of one service cannot send messages to users on another service. For example, an AIM user cannot send IM messages to an MSN account. Trillian is an IM client software that overcomes this limitation by allowing users to connect to several different IM accounts through a single interface.

Similar to e-mail except that messages are sent and received nearly instantaneously. Akin to chatting.

Exchanging messages in real-time between two or more people logged on to an instant messaging service. Popular IM services include AOL's Instant Messenger (AIM), AOL's ICQ, Microsoft's MSN Messenger and Yahoo

(see Messaging)

A communications tool that combines the live nature of chat rooms with the direct contact of e-mail. IM software connects users who have all agreed to be part of the same group. The most commonly used software for Instant Messaging is ICQ ("I Seek You").

the ability to exchange messages in real time with other people over the Internet.

A technology that gives users the ability to identify people online and to exchange messages with them. Examples include Yahoo Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger.

Instant messaging is the ability to easily see whether a chosen friend or co-worker is connected to the Internet and, if they are, to exchange messages with them.

A service that allows people to exchange messages almost instantly using specific software, such as MSN Messenger.

Allows you to exchange messages almost instantaneously with friends and colleagues. It's like a phone chat, but in writing. In the instant messaging program, you simply type your message and click Send.

A text-based computer conference over the Internet between two or more people who must be online at the same time. When you send an IM the receiver is instantly notified that she/he has a message and can then respond accordingly.

A live chat and email service that enables you to find your friends when they are online and send messages. Each user has a private list of instant messaging addresses and the instant messaging system can be set to alert you when someone on your list is online. Popular IM programs include Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ and MSN Instant Messenger. Return to .

A special form of chat wherein you can send messages between 2 or more people while they are on the web

Sending messages to another user that immediately appear on that user's computer screen over the Internet. Instant messages are different from email messages in that they do not sit unread until the user checks his or her email; they appear on-screen as they are received.

instant messaging: a way for people to communicate with each other immediately (ie. in =real time) in an online environment.

(sometimes called IMing) is the ability to easily see whether chosen friends or co-workers are connected to the Internet and, if they are, to exchange messages with them. See also IRC and ICQ.

A computer program that allows near-instantaneous (synchronous) communication between computer users. This communication can take a variety of forms, from text (similar to an email) to videoconferencing. A variant of this type of application for mobile telephones is the SMS.

Instant Messaging involves a tool that allows users to communicate with friends or colleagues online. Users are alerted when another user of the service, who is listed as a contact, is online and are enabled to communicate immediately with this contact. While used mainly by youth to communicate with friends, the tool is increasingly being used within business settings to increase efficiency.

A type of communications that enables you to chat, privately or publicly, with other computer users. It allows you to see whether a specified friend or co-worker is currently connected to the Internet and to send immediate messages to them. Although most Instant Messaging services are text-only, some services, such as AOL, also support voice messaging and file sharing.

Short messages that pop up on a internet enabled computer, or a mobile phone.()

A real-time chat application that allows two or more people to communicate over the Internet.

A form of high-speed chat that lets you instantly exchange messages with friends or colleagues. Popular messaging programs include Microsoft's MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger.

A chat applicationthat allows two or more people to communicate over the Internet via real-time keyed-in messages.

(IM): Commercial versions of text chat that allows Internet users to type messages to one another. There are several competing instant messaging services, which have varying degrees of compatibility with each other.

Instant messaging (or IM) is the ability to exchange messages instantly over the Internet with a friend or co-worker who is also online. Instant messaging differs from ordinary e-mail in that the messages are sent instantly back and forth. Not only is this a more convenient way to communicate than e-mail, but it is faster too. Traditional IM services offer exchanges by text only, however IM services such as QQ also support voice and video chat (see below) and file transfers.

A form of private chat set up to allow users to easily and quickly exchange real-time typed messages with the individuals they specify.

A computer program that allows users to exchange messages in real-time. As soon as one user enters a message, it appears on the other user's screen.

A type of communications service that enables you to create a private chat room with another individual. 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.

Real-time' chat between two computers where messages are sent to each other instantly. Providers include MSN, ICQ and AOL.

A method of sending a message from one person to another as long as both computers are connected to the Internet and both are running compatible Instant messaging software.

A form of synchronous communication that allows users on a network such as Skype to initiate chat sessions with others on that network in real time. Currently, several instant-messaging systems are available, but no one is standard; this means that you must be on the same network as the people you wish to communicate with.

a software program that allows you to send electronic messages to someone else who is online at the same time. Both of you can see the messages and responses at once.

The Internet has made instant messaging possible. At the heart of this is spontaneous communication with friends or business partners who are also online. AOL, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ and – in Switzerland – Bluewin are among the well-known Instant Messengers. An Instant Messenger's functionality will normally include, for example, a buddy list with which friends and colleagues can be invited and then displayed in the list. Status information is also displayed, showing which members of the buddy list are logged on to the Internet. Other status information can include, for example, "absent", "in a meeting", or "in a good mood". Communications can be sent to one or more members of the buddy list. This makes it possible to chat with several people at once.

A form of electronic communication which involves immediate correspondence between two or more users who are all online simultaneously.

Electronic communication allowing for instant correspondence between two or more users who are online at the same time.

A more advanced form of chat that allows multiple users across multiple ISPs communicate via text communications. Most IM programs allow such features as 'buddy lists', which shows whether or not other members of the buddy list are online and available to chat.

A small window through which you can chat in text form to a small number of people. Instant messengers have buddy lists which tell you when people you know are online. More...

Simple text-based chat, which allows you to communicate with another broadband user in real time.

messaging between to or more individuals who are simultaneously online. In order for IMing to work, both users (who must subscribe to the service) must be online at the same time, and the intended recipient must be willing to accept instant messages.

Real-time text based communication over a netowrk (usually the internet), using a program such as AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger.

A real time Internet communication application. While chat involves many users simultaneously, IM is one-to-one.

A form of online communication in which users can send messages to each other in real time by typing them into their computer screens. Each person sees what the other has typed and can respond instantly. People who want to IM each other must be members of the same messaging service, such as MSN Messenger, America Online's AIM service, Yahoo Messenger or ICQ.

a system allowing users to know when others in their "group" are online and to interact with them via text, voice chat and or other synchronous or asynchronous modes of communication.

To use instant messaging, you'll need a username and password from an online IM service, and the rest depends on your phone and operator. Some operators support specific software. Some phones have an application built-in, and with others you can download an independent Javaâ„¢ application.

Instant messaging is a service that alerts users when friends or colleagues are online and allows them to communicate with each other in real time through private online chat areas.

Software that allows you to talk to someone across the Internet in real time.

"Talking" online in real time without the time delays of regular e-mail. Instant messaging creates an open communication channel via the Internet, anywhere, anytime. The range of messaging services currently offered include simple correspondence by text, as fast as you can type; sending/receiving documents or images from PC to PC; or conversing by voice using your PC as a phone. Both parties must be logged on to the Internet and using the same instant messaging software service to communicate. All that's required to get started with instant messaging is to download and install free software from providers and set up your account.

A person-to-person chat environment that allows two users to communicate using (usually) text based messages. Instant messaging is usually thought of as a synchronous communication technology.

A communications service that enables you to create a private chat room with another individual in order to communicate in real time over the Internet.

A method of communicating, using text, directly with antoher person who is currently online. America Online Instant Messaging service (AIM) and ICQ (I seek you) are two common applications instant messaging When you type your message, it immediately shows up on the remote machine. More than two people can communicate at once this way, in which case messages show up on all the machines currently connected. Also known as ' chatting.'

Instant Messaging is a computer application that lets you chat with your friends over the internet in real-time using text messages. But with a webcam and headset, you can also broadcast live video and talk to your contacts like you are on the phone - or even hold a video conference! Creative WebCams works with all popular IM software like AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger.

Real-time textual communication, generally person-to-person.

A system that allows users to exchange messages, or "chat," in near real time over the Internet. NTERNET- (Upper case I) The vast collection of interconnected networks that evolved from the 1950's. The Internet now connects over 60,000 independent networks into a vast global Internet.

IM is the act of instantly communicating between two or more people connected over a network like the Internet. Some of the more common IM programmes are Yahoo Messenger and Microsoft MSN Messenger. IM is like texting, but it is done on a computer not a phone. It is cheap and popular with young people.

Instant Messaging or IM is a communication program that allows a user to send a message that immediately is displayed on an online friend's or collague's computer.

Real-time Internet communications service that notifies users when one or more people are online and then allows them to exchange messages or files or join a private chat room with each other. Many instant messaging services also can alert a user to information such as calendar appointments, stock quotes, weather, or sports scores. 2.36, 3.33, 9.6

(IM) - A chat-like technology on an online service that notifies a user when a friend is online, allowing for simultaneous communication (like talking on the phone, only with text). Once a connection is established files and voice messages may also be transferred between each person's machines.

Instant messaging or IM is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. The text is conveyed via computers connected over a network such as the Internet.