What Is Instant Messaging?
IM - a text based conversation over the Internet between two or more people who must be online at the same time. This is one of the most commonly used computer features for young people and has developed a culture and set of terminology all its own.
First, you must have IM software installed on your PC and subscribe to an IM service. There are many IM services - what's new is that now MTU offers this service. What software? Our server requires a Jabber client, names of two examples are Gaim and Trillian Pro. Next, you must define a list of friends and coworkers who you want to converse with (called "buddies").
Last, whenever you are on the Internet, you will notify the service whether you are willing to be contacted for a conversation (online). Or not willing (away, busy or offline).
Once this is set up, whenever a buddy is on the Internet, you are notified with a distinctive sound. When a message is sent, the recipient is alerted with a distinctive sound, a window that indicates that an IM has arrived and allowing the recipient to accept or reject it, or a window containing the incoming message.