Edit / See: Instant Messaging

a message sent over the internet

a message you send to a buddy that appears on your buddy's screen almost immediately after you send it

a small unit of data exchanged by the users of an instant messaging system

A form of real time Internet communication between two people using an instant messaging application.

A two-way, real-time, private dialogue between two users. A user initiating an IM sends an invitation to talk to another, specific, user whoÕs online at the same time. IMs are often used in conjunction with chat rooms. A user in a chat room can send an IM to someone else in the chat room whose screen name, or Òhandle,Ó is displayed, thus establishing a private communication.

a medium of chat room communication.

Technology, similar to a chat room, which notifies a user when a friend is online, allowing them to "converse" by exchanging text messages.

The instant message tool allows a user to send a short message to another Instant Messenger nickname that is delivered directly to the users screen in near realtime. This is unlike Email which may contain larger amounts of data and may be delivered at a later time. The receiver may easily respond with an instant message back to the sender creating a semi-realtime conversation.

This is a message that is sent "instantly" and electronically to you by someone who has you on their "buddy list" on the Internet. You have the options to respond to these messages or have them blocked from your computer. Yes, it's WAY faster than your postman