Getting the message across [instant messaging

Abstract

Instant messaging (IM) has become a runaway success among consumers, and businesses are embracing it as an adjunct to email. But the technology is still plagued with problems. In contrast to email, today's IM users send and receive messages across a collection of different networks, using a variety of communications protocols. The development and management of IM systems has been complicated by this lack of interoperability. However, the effort to build budges between the various networking and software elements is making progress. In the enterprise domain, software developers are betting on the technology behind IM as the vehicle for a new breed of application that uses 'presence' information to support various forms of real-time collaboration and interaction.