7 Things You Should Know About Instant Messaging

New to Instant Messaging (IM)?
The Webopedia has a good definition of instant messaging.

These webmail services offer IM options:

• gmail
• yahoo
• hotmail
• aol

If you have several different IM accounts, you can manage them all at the same time using free services like Meebo, Trillian, or Pidgin.

Meebo http://www.meebo.com
Trillian http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/
Pidgin http://www.pidgin.im/

Meebo is an application that allows you to manage all your IM accounts simultaneously, without downloading the application to your computer.

Meebo features a widget that you can add to your webpage - if you have a blog, a website, or even a wiki! People can IM you directly using the widget without having to log into an IM account.

Examples of this include:

• Sarah Houghton-Jan's LibrarianInBlack blog.
• Celita DeArmond's Distance Learning Need Help? webpage at the San Antonio College Library.
• Our Very Own Demystifying Web 2.0 Wiki!