Internet Messaging Systems

AOL's AIM system (logon screen) IM - Internet Messaging

There are various messaging systems available online,some of the main ones in use are covered here.

Messaging systems provide a live communication between a pair of people rather like a telephone except that the communication is typed rather than spoken (although some systems are now offering audio and even video communication over the net). Access is via a username and password as with many online systems. In the same way that you need to know someone's phone number,you need to know someone's username and IM system in order to contact them -often you will need to be on the same IM system in order to speak to someone.
The point of an IM system is it allows users from one ISP (Internet Service Provider) to speak to users of another ISP - that is - someone using BT and someone using AOL can talk to each other if they both have,say Yahoo messenger.

Chat Rooms
Chat rooms allow many individuals to communicate with one another just as if they were literally in the same room.The room will usually have a subject type indicating what the conversation topic is and a list of users who are inhabiting the room. One problem in chat rooms is that the communications may not run consecutively and sometimes it is difficult to follow who is talking to whom.
Users are known by a username rather than their own name which is why there are concerns about meeting people online and then IRL (In Real Life) as who they appear to be online may not be actually who they say they are. A certain degree of wariness is advised when using chat rooms.

Forums and Groups
A forum or group is a collection of people who add their comments to a central commentary on an ad hoc basis. These are used when people have an interest in common and may wish to seek advice from other people with the same interest.Sometimes the forum or group may have email alerts or email feedback of comments made by the users so that you don't actually have to go to the forum to read comments and reply. Forums and groups may require you to subscribe,which means entering your personal details into a form,and may also be subject to whether other users allow you to be part of the group.

Points to remember about Internet Messaging Systems

They can provide either text,video,or audio communication.
Most provide a one-to-one connection like a phone,but others create chat groups.
Sometimes a download and install is required to allow the chat program to work.
Chat rooms can be found online and allow multiple people to communicate.

See Also: Chat in an Instant,KOOL IM,MEEBO