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Instant Messaging
If you are new to Instant Messaging (IM), you
should know that not all these sources of IM are compatible
with each other. Mainly, Microsoft's messaging software
is not compatible with the others at this time (Sept. 2001).
What this means, for example, is that, if you have Microsoft
Messenger installed on your computer and the person with whom
you are trying to IM is using one of the other IM services,
you may not be able to communicate. As far as we know,
the other services are compatible with each other. This
lack of compatibility between two of the big players in the
arena, Microsoft and AOL, may change if they agree on certain
standards that will allow users of their services to
communicate, but that has not happened yet.
In May 2003, we added ICQ and
Sympatico to our links in the right column. Since
they do not address the issue of compatibility with other IM
software, we can not comment on that at this time. It is
worth noting that ICQ offers a web-based option for instant
messaging called ICQ2GO!; in other words, you run you IM session from within
your web browser.
Like email, IM is a possible source of computer
viruses. This is a recent development which is
discussed in an article
by CNET News.com on August 14, 2001. And, again like
email, these viruses travel via attachments to a IM message.
Some IM services may not support attachments, but if you
install an IM service that does so, you should take the same
precautions as with email. In other words, avoid opening
an attachment that seems strange to you.
Here are some other points you might be
wondering about:
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You may already have IM software installed
on your computer. It may have been on the computer
when it was new; of course, this is more likely for newer
computers. This would not prevent you from
downloading and installing IM software from one of the
other sources.
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You do not need to have an account for
Internet access with any of these suppliers of the
software in order to use it. For example, if you
download IM software from CompuServe and install it, you
do not need to have a CompuServe account to use it.
You can just logon via your regular Internet Service
Provider and use IM. You will not incur charges from
the source from which you obtained the IM software you are
using; you will just pay your regular Internet access
fees. Or, if you have free Internet access, you will not
incur charges just for using IM.
For more information, visit one or more
the IM sources listed in the box at right.
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