What is IM?
- "Buddy" list of people
- Message windows -- where the chatting is
- Status messages
- Personalization -- create different fonts, styles, colors
- Send graphics, files, videos
- Send to mobile devices
- Even play games
Usually when you IM someone, they must first use the same program you are using and be on your list of Friends or Buddies.
IM today includes features beyond chatting, such as webcams, or voice chats, even file transfers. You can even save the conversation so you can read it again later.
Even though we're learning about Instant Messaging as a Web 2.0 tool, believe it or not, Instant Messaging is actually older than the Internet (source: PLATO 1960)! Check out these Amazing Facts and Figures about Instant Messaging from Pingdom.
If you have a Yahoo! Mail account, an AOL account, an MSN/Live/Hotmail account, a Google account, or any number of other social networking accounts, you already have access to IM.
Here is a list of sites where you can download Instant Messaging:
- http://messenger.yahoo.com/
- http://www.google.com/talk/
- http://www.aim.com/download.adp
- http://www.myspace.com/myspaceim
- http://download.live.com/messenger
Like most activities online, you want to use caution when Instant Messaging, because just like your email account, people will try to Spam you!
For this Thing you do NOT have to sign up for IM. But, if you already have one and are willing to share it on your blog, please do so.
Either way, tell us what you think about Instant Messaging -- is it a do or a don't?
0 comments:
Post a Comment