Language and Media
Some facts about IM
- The commencements of IM were in the 1960’s already
- There has to be made a distinction between IM software for private use and IM software specially designed for enterprise use, which is a lot more secure (e.g. IBM Lotus Sametime)
- Multiprotocol applications like Trillian and Pidgin allow to contact buddies from a variety of Instant Messengers without having to sign up for each
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Real time communication
- Easy to use
- Buddy list allows to view online availability
- Less intrusive than phone calls
- Availability wherever one can connect to the Internet
Disadvantages
- Viruses can be transmitted via file exchange
- Great potential to be distracting
- Personal data can be viewed by all users
Additional messenger features
Voice over Internet Protocol allows to make PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone voice calls and webconferencing, when using a webcam
File exchange enables the user to exchange pictures, music and all sorts of files
Mobile Instant Messaging makes it possible to receive and send messages from a mobile phone
Games are featured by some messengers. ICQ for example, allows its users to invite their buddies to a match of ‘Connect 4’,among others
History inventories store IM communication for later reference