An application called Instant Messenger (IM) has attracted more and more attentions from the internet users around the world lately. It is said that IM has provided them a brilliant platform to communicate using PC with a relatively lower cost as compared to other medium of communications. Anyone can use IM regardless where he or she came from. The borderless form of communication has enabled a close relationship emerging between friend, relative, family member, and even entrepreneur to deliver their messages instantly and effectively. Some of the IM platforms even allow for using video and sound instead of the text itself.

Below I listed some of the services provided by the IM that are used extensively anywhere and anytime by the internet users.

AOL Instant Messenger

AOL became the most well-known IM ten years ago. Its popularity particularly dealing with its excellent services has successfully attracted many users which later leading the company to release stand-alone official AIM client called AOL Instant Messenger or AIM. AIM uses TOC protocol and OSCAR instant messaging protocol which was released by AOL on May, 1997 and it permits registered users to communicate in real time. The new version was specifically designed for WindowXP to enable the internet users to use video and sound, sharing files and other attractive features which are added from time to time.

AIM is always regarded as the most popular method of sending instant message as it has the largest group of registered users as compared to other IM interfaces listed here. Indeed, it is a user-friendly tool that is easily manipulated by the users to communicate with each other. AOL also offers an AIM client software which can be used for Mac OS X, Mac Os, and Linus.

Yahoo Messenger

The application of Yahoo Messenger enables its users to communicate each other by using the provided current Yahoo ID to sign in. It comes with an attractive emoticon, direct communication via video, fail transfer and so forth. Its front page appears to be more attractive as compared to other IM platforms but its users are lesser than AOL. It is a user-friendly communication tool and thus it is more appropriate to be recommended for a newbie who wishes to communicate friends, relative and family members.

The interesting feature of Yahoo Messenger is that the users are allowed to share photos easily and effectively. Instead, you can choose the theme to indicate your mood or feeling via its excellent feature called IMVironments. Indeed, it is the best IM client and hence it is worth using it. Its new version, Version 8, comes with the added Voice to make the communication sounds more attractive and impressive. This version also enables the users to include “Widgets” into the new messenger. With this added feature, you can exchange message with other users who use MSN Messenger and Window Live.

Google Talk

Google is the search engine favored by the most internet users as compared to Yahoo, Ask, Netscape and other search engine sites. Google provides its web-based application for instant messaging and voice over internet (VOIP) called Google Talk or simply known as Gtalk. Gtalk enables its users to make calls instantly and effectively without paying a single cent. It also allows the communication of other XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) clients with Google Talk users with its open protocol, XMPP. Now, BlackBerry is available to use within Google Talk which can be downloaded at Google Talk's blackberry. There is also an Add Friend button, a “Search all contacts” field to enable searches in both Google Talk and Gmail contacts.

Google has made the communication more convenient by introducing Google Apps Team addition to enable talks among co-workers or classmates taken place in a friendly environment. With this add-in application, anyone can obtain Google Docs to create and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations. As Google Apps Team addition recognizes the connections to co-worker or classmates effectively, their contacts will automatically be added in your contact list. To try this, try visit Google Apps Team Addition Homepage.

Google Talk is a good platform to choose for an instant messaging and open communication as it can be used for many languages. To do this, you just add any of the 23 other translation bots. They are all named by two-letter language abbreviations as "[from language]2[to language]@bot.talk.google.com", and the supported language pairs are: ar2en, de2en, de2fr, el2en, en2ar, en2de, en2el, en2es, en2fr, en2it, en2ja, en2ko, en2nl, en2ru, en2zh, es2en, fr2de, fr2en, it2en, ja2en, ko2en, nl2en, ru2en, zh2en. So, French to German translation, talk to fr2de@bot.talk.google.com.

On June 4, 2008, Google has added many other languages with the aims to reduce the language barriers with automated chat translations many people have been experiencing. The new bots speak Bulgarian (bg), Croatian (hr), Czech (cs), Danish (da), Finnish (fi), Hindi (hi), Norwegian (no), Polish (pl), Portuguese (pt), Romanian (ro), Swedish (sv) and Traditional Chinese (zh-hant). Basically, there are 26 new bots: bg2en, cs2en, da2en, en2bg, en2cs, en2da, en2fi, en2hi, en2hr, en2no, en2pl, en2pt, en2ro, en2sv, en2zh-hant, fi2en, hi2en, hr2en, no2en, pl2en, pt2en, ro2en, sv2en, zh-hant2en, zh-hant2zh, and zh2zh-hant. To check out the full list of supported languages, simply log in to supported language combinations.

ICQ

ICQ is an instant messaging commonly called “I seek you” which is regarded as a stand-alone IM client since it was first released in November, 1996. It was also the first to have features like “Buddy” and an interactive communication platform. This application has become portion of family AOL Time Warner, but unfortunately it is not advertised extensively like AIM. It is an application compatible with the PC operation of OS which includes cell phone and Symbian OS. That is why it is not surprising to find that its usage is growing.

ICQ provides many excellent features which make it stands firmly among other IM platforms. It has marvelous features include spelling checker, file transfer, “Push to talk” (PTT) service, video messaging and e-mail integration. Not only ICQ let you communicate with friends and colleagues in real time, but also you can play many online games to entertain yourself. ICQ is definitely the best choice for anyone who wishes to search for an attractive and entertaining IM platform.

MSN

Like other leading websites, Microsoft provides its excellent IM plug-in known as MSN Messenger. If you wish to use the services provided by MSN Messenger, you should first have a registered Hotmail to access this type of IM platform. It offers many interesting features such as video messaging, voice communication, emotion icons and many more.

MSN Messenger also comes with a facility to enable you to search via IM to obtain your desired findings. That means you can use it as a web search without opening another window. This feature is very unique as it is not available at other IM clients. MSN is an ideal web-search and IM interface for entrepreneurs, organizations, institutions, administrative and the home users as well. The other amazing feature is that you can leave a message or send a note even you are offline. Despite a large number of people are engaging with PC Windows every day, it is undeniably that this platform has improved the searches, instant messaging and real-time communication in a wide coverage.

Jabber

Jabber is an excellent XML-based protocol to enable real-time instant messaging for e-business. The protocol is added to include Voice over IP and file transfer signaling. It is unique that it integrates the existing e-business into a more personal and dynamic environment. Despite of this excellent feature, Jabber has enabled the communication with other IM platforms to be taken place at the same time with AIM and MSN. Nevertheless, it is not suitable for a newbie who is not familiar with the interface of IM. Once you have familiar with Jabber, it could be a marvelous tool used specifically for an extensible messaging and presence information (buddy lists). Unlike other IM clients, Jabber is an open system that requires its users to use their domain name and a suitable Internet connection to access the server and to talk to users from other IM platforms like Google Talk, Pidgin, Miranda IM, Gizmo Project, Psi and iChat as well.

iChat

iChat is an AIM client by Apple Inc. that allows users to integrate MSN, Yahoo and Google Talk contacts into the Jabber pane. This client provides an excellent facility to enable its users to communicate with either users from Mac, AIM or Jabber. With its new features of video backdrops, Photo Booth effects, Keynote presentation and photo slideshows making iChat a fun and live on-line messaging tool to connect people around the world.

The most unique feature of iChat is that it enables a full-screen personal video conference over thousand miles away via any type of broadband connections. Besides that, an application of iChat provides an interesting client to be integrated with OS X. Therefore, Mac users who are using AIM should give iChat a try.

It is important to understand what your children are saying, and who they are talking to. The anonymity of the internet makes the latter task more difficult. Television programs such as “To Catch a Predator” make us feel as though everyone on the opposite end of the computer talking to teenagers are slimy creatures with ill intentions.

Children feel the need to rebel as they grow older, so an exchange full of “PAR” and “PIR” may not be so damaging - especially if they are talking with a friend you know. Be on alert for “A/S/L” which means “Age/Sex/Location.” This implies the person on the other end doesn't know your child and is casting a wide net. Even if the content of the conversation seems benign, know that predators don't announce their plans. They mimic teen lingo and are adept at feigning interest in a variety of activities. This enables them to reel them in, moving to the “LMIRL” or “let's meet in real life.”

Protect your kids by familiarizing yourself with this common online teen lingo:

A/S/L Age/Sex/Location

ADR Address

GYPO Get your pants off

IWSN I want sex now

KFU Kisses for you

KPC Keeping parents clueless

LMAO Laughing my ass off

LMIRF Let's meet in real life

LOL Laugh out loud

MOOS Member of opposite sex

MOSS Member of same sex

MorF Male or Female?

NALOPKT Not a lot of people know this

NIFOC Nude in front of computer

P911 Parental Crisis/Parent alert

PAL Parents are listening

PAR Parents are watching

PIR Parents in room

POS Parents over shoulder

ROFLMAO Rolling on floor laughing my ass off

SorG Straight or gay?

TD2M Talk dirty to me

WYCM Will you call me?

If you think your child may be using social networking in a way that may be harmful, sit down and discuss it. Remember, anything posted online doesn't disappear when you remove it, and some people using the web are online predators. Stress to your child the importance of not giving out personal information to anyone he meets online.

1. Surf the web: If there is a topic you've always been interested in finding out about, the internet is the place to go. Type a word or two about the topic into the search box for your browser and hit enter or the search icon. You will find numerous websites with information for you to pursue.
2. Chat rooms: Look through the list of chat rooms available and pick one. You will get to interact with people from all walks of life.
3. Make a blog: There are many free blog sites online. Just type free blog into the search engine. When you find one you like, sign up. Most of them are very user friendly with easy to follow instructions for setting the blog up.
4. Email: Find out if any of your friends have internet access and send those that do emails. It's today's answer to letter writing!
5. Shop: Almost all of the big name stores have online sites, such as Wal-mart, Sears, REI, etc. Always guard your passwords and credit card information. If the site you are looking at doesn't have the security lock symbol at the bottom indicating it is protecting your information, don't use them.
6. Play games: Use the search engine again and look up free games to play online. There are lots of different kinds around. Poker, bingo type sites, and puzzle sites to name a few.
7. Message boards: Look up message boards for things that interest you. It is a great way to meet new people, and find help for questions you may have.
8. Instant Message: Once you have made some online friends you can IM, or instant message, each other. This is a fun and easy way to interact online. A little box will pop up for you to type your message into, then you hit send or enter, and it goes to the other person. It's the internet version of talking on the phone.
9. Music: Some internet providers offer radios for you to listen to while online. You can find information about it in their help section.
10. Make your own website: Let people know what you are all about. There are many different website hosting sites online. Again, use the search engine and type in free websites.

As you can see, there are a lot of different ways to use the internet. You can find information on any subject; promote yourself with blogs and websites, meet new friends using message boards and in chat rooms, stay in touch with friends and family, and much more. The internet is a very useful tool. Make the most of it and enjoy!

The only way for this internet device to be useful is for two people to have a standing agreement on days and times when they will get together for this type of chatting. For instance, if you are talking to your best friend/boyfriend/girlfriend/brother/sister/cousin/whomever …establish ahead of time that you both will be online at such and such a time, on such and such a day…then promptly forget about it, so the other person will have to phone you and holler at you to get online so the two of you can chat.

Perhaps this is why many people have decided that they don't like using their messenger for conversation, while other people, and I include myself in this group, continue to persist in using the thing for its intended purpose, simply because it's there, and it's fun, and we like it. We are the people that other people block from their messenger lists because we are always trying to talk to them when they don't want to talk to us. We are the ones who aren't even aware that we are being blocked in this fashion….we just continue to send unanswered IM's regardless. This is because we are used to being ignored.

Instant Messenger is a fabulous invention for connecting people who otherwise might not have any connection, for example…people from opposite sides of the world, can get together in real time, though perhaps thirteen hours apart, and chat as if they were in the same room. Webcams bring this illusion even more clearly into focus, as they enable the two to see each other making silly faces as they type. The addition of a microphone and headset to the mix, enables the two to cease typing altogether and just talk. You can still see the silly faces but now you don't have to wait long for responses. This can be difficult when you already find it difficult to know what to say to the other person….only now you are speechless for real.

What gets me is when someone else has a lesser IM service, one that doesn't have all the bells, whistles, doohickeys and what-have-you that mine has, so when I talk to that person, my IM automatically transforms itself to conform to the lesser quality system. So I lose most of my emoticons, can't exchange pictures, or other files, and just basically get frustrated because the other person did not have the foresight to conform to me for a change. I'm kidding, of course, but it seriously is a frustration for this IM addict. I like to exchange pictures over Instant Messenger as it is much faster than by email. Does it sound as though I have dial up? Yup. I do.

Some people may wonder why I spend so much time communicating through IM when there are other options…like the telephone for example. Well the reason is simple, it took me a heck of a long time to install my messenger into my computer…If I have to struggle, fight, beg, plead, cajole, and basically embarrass myself to get it installed, I am darn well planning to use it, and use it a lot. Ignore me if you must, block me if you will, but I am going to use that Instant Messenger.

Text messages are fun as well. People seem to like receiving these messages on their phones; even if they don't respond back, they are happy to get them. The only time they are not too happy to get these messages is when someone is merely playing games with them. I of course, would not do such a thing. I won't text someone's phone to find out for example, the weather where that person is, when that person is approximately three miles away. That would just be so wrong. I will, however, send flirts to someone I love so he can get a pleasant surprise on his phone. This is not an abuse of the IM system, unless this person is someone who hates flirting, in which case, he probably needs an attitude adjustment instead of a girlfriend.

All in all, Instant Messenger is a wonderful invention….providing the rest of the world cooperates with you. They won't but go ahead and use it anyway…..because you can.