Instant messaging, or IM, has been touted as the new email, and we see favorable adoption across businesses of all types, whether they be from the Information Technology sectors, to more traditional business settings. Management and staff are enjoying the benefits of quick business communication and even virtual conferencing via IM. Advantages include the following:
- Online indicators. Unlike email, where you have to wait until your correspondent gets online, reads, and responds to your message, IM clients usually have online indicators, which tell you whether your colleague is available or not.
- Message broadcast and conferencing. IM clients have message broadcast features, that let colleagues communicate instantly with more than one person at a time. With conferencing, people can hold virtual meetings.
- Logging. IM clients usually feature automatic logging of conversations, so that sessions are recorded. This can also be saved for future reference.
- No missed “calls.” Unlike telephone calls, which can be missed when a person is out of his desk, an IM can be sent even if one is offline—and he can receive the message as soon as he gets connected.