What is it?
This form of Internet Technology is a real time
messaging service which sends text communication between two or more
people, over networked computers like through the internet.
Instant Messaging programs relies on clients being run on the
users computer, which then hooks up to a central service that allows
for the real time communication. Most time Instant Messaging services
allows the ability to see what other users are online and using the
service.
History
Instant Message known to have started as early as the 1970's, but it was not until the company by the name of Mirabilis launched there free program ICQ before to become widely known and accepted form of Internet Communication. As ICQ's notoriety grew it became a threat to America Online's (AOL) service. By the time AOL had acquired Mirabilis and there ICQ software and applied for patents with the US Patent Office, multiple Instant Messaging services had also risen using there own unique protocols.
Benefits
- Users communicate in real time.
- Can tell when other users are online.
- Multiple forms of information can be distributed.
- Message history can be kept.
- Private (one to one) or Public (one to many) messages can be sent.
- Generally Free to obtain and use.