Messages are typically transmitted between two or more parties, when each user inputs text and triggers a transmission to the recipient(s), who are all connected on a common network. Instant messaging ( IM) technology is a type of online chat allowing real-time text transmission over the Internet or another computer network. JSTOR ( October 2016) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī classic example of instant messaging on a desktop computer: the left window of this software showing a list of contacts (' buddy list') and the right window an active IM conversation.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: 'Instant messaging' – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.