Instant messaging (IM) is a type of online chat which offers real-time text transmission over the Internet, allowing you to converse more quickly and easily than email. IM is generally used when both (or all) people are online, so your message can be read immediately. By comparison, an email message won’t be seen until the recipient checks his email, meaning that chat and IM are better for quick messages and conversations. IM is especially suited for one-on-one communication,
- It’s instant; you don’t need to wait for the other person to check his email.
- It’s great for quick messages, questions, or notifications.
- Compared to email, it’s easier to carry on a conversation (or even multiple conversations).
- You can stay logged in while doing other things on your computer, which makes it easy to multi-task.
