Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. The Current Status of IM

2. IM as an Integrated Communications Platform

3. Network-Based versus Device-Based Approaches

4. Presence Awareness

5. Security Issues

6. Standards and IM

7. Revenue Potentials

8. Conclusion

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

Definition
Instant messaging (IM) is an Internet protocol (IP)–based application that provides convenient communication between people using a variety of different device types. The most familiar today is computer-to-computer instant text messaging, but IM also can work with mobile devices, such as digital cellular phones, and can incorporate voice or video. Although there are a number of free Internet-based messaging services, IM is a feature that carriers can offer to increase customer loyalty and add value to their service offerings.

Overview
The millions of people using current Internet IM services and the growing popularity of short text messaging on mobile phones demonstrate that a market exists for IM services. Carriers can take advantage of this opportunity by offering advanced messaging services that integrate both fixed and mobile access and add new features that are not possible on free Web-based messaging services.

This tutorial will provide a general overview of IM services and how carriers and end users can benefit from these services.