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Instant messaging is somewhat akin to chat. It tends to be between specific people who already know each other, and have been authorized by the other party. This authorization is represented as a contact or buddy list in most IM clients. Just like 'normal' chat, conversations take place in real-time. The predominant IM services are MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ.
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MSN was somewhat late getting into the Instant Messaging arena, but have made up for it with features some of the other clients don't have, including a higher level of security, cell phone paging, DirectPlay games and voice chat. The Microsoft Windows operating system includes a version of MSN Messenger called Windows Messenger.
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First developed by Jeremie Miller in 1998, Jabber is different from the other messaging programs in many ways. Using a set of streaming XML protocols, Jabber is open source like Linux, which allows hundreds of developers to work on and improve the program over time. Because of this, Jabber is stable, decentralized, secure and flexible.
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In instant messages you use code or special symbols (called emoticons) to show how you're feeling.
- :) Happy
- :( Sad
- :O Surprised
- :P Sticking your tongue out
- :D Very happy
- ;) Just joking
- :/ Annoyed
- :*) Kiss
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AOL has had instant messaging from the early 1990s. With the introduction of their Buddy List feature in 1996, AOL's Instant Messenger became a household word among online chatters. But AOL's IM was at that time only available to subscribers of America Online. AOL Instant Messenger emerged in 1997, making it possible for non AOL users to talk with AOL members.
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Yahoo! Messenger was created a short time after ICQ and AOL showed that people wanted an easy way to chat online with each other. It was one of the first chat clients to have advanced features and extras like stock information, voice chat and file sharing.
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ICQ (I Seek You) is considered by many as the pioneer of Instant Messaging. It was created in 1996 by a small Israeli company called Mirablis. ICQ was eventually bought out by AOL in 1998 but it remains extremely popular and new features are regularly added to the chat client.
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