What's easier than a phone call, arrives more quickly than email, and is faster than a speeding bullet? Answer: an instant message. What's an instant message, you ask? An instant message is a typed message, like email, that you can send and receive with someone else. How do you send an instant message? Simple, with an instant message program. Some of the most popular programs include Windows Messenger (included on Windows XP, simply go to Start -> All Programs -> Windows Messenger, and if it isn't there, you can install it by going to Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components -> Windows Messenger -> Next -> Finish). I recommend Windows Messenger over MSN Messenger because Windows messenger doesn't display advertisements. Other popular programs include Yahoo! Messenger (
http://messenger.yahoo.com).
The first time you sign into your instant messenger program, you will be asked to set up an account (I use kev_wats @ yahoo.com on Windows Messenger, if you want to add me to your contact list (remove the spaces in my yahoo.com email address)).
Instant messenger programs allow you to build contact lists, like you build contact lists in an email program's address book. These contact lists allow you to see when a friend or coworker is online, and when you can send and expect to receive a response back from them. Because I work in front of a computer all day, instant messenger is an easy way to communicate with friends, family and coworkers without losing focus on my work.
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