What is instant messaging software?
Instant messaging software is software that uses instant messaging technology to achieve online chatting and communication. There are two types of architectures. One is the C/S architecture, which uses the client/server form. Users need to download and install the client software during use. The other uses the B/S architecture, which is the browser/server form. This form of instant messaging software directly uses the Internet as a medium. The client does not need to install any software, and can experience the server-side communication dialogue.
Functional features: Instant messaging (Instant Messaging): Through the instant messaging function, you can know whether your relatives and friends are online and communicate with them instantly. Instant messaging takes less time than sending emails and is more convenient than making a phone call. It is undoubtedly the most convenient communication method in the Internet age. Instant messaging (IM) is a terminal service that allows two or more people to use the Internet to instantly transmit text messages, files, voice and video exchanges. Multi-tasking Asynchronous Long and short communication Fast media conversion Interactivity Unrestricted by time and space
Instant messaging is a service that connects a terminal to an instant messaging network. Instant messaging differs from e-mail in that the conversation is real-time. Most instant messaging services offer presence awareness features - showing a list of contacts, whether they are online, and whether they can be chatted with. In early instant messaging programs, every character typed by the user was instantly displayed on both sides' screens, and every deletion and modification of a character was reflected instantly on the screen. This model is more like a telephone conversation than using e-mail.
In existing instant messaging programs, the other party in the conversation usually only sees the message after pressing the send key (Enter or Ctrl+Enter) on the local end. Popular instant messaging services on the Internet include MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, NET Messenger Service, Jabber, UcSTAR, ICQ and QQ, GoCom. These services rely on many older (and more popular) online chat media, such as Internet Relay Chat.
In the early 1970s, an earlier form of instant messaging was the PLATO system. Later in the 1980s, UNIX/Linux chat instant messaging was widely used by engineers and academics, and in the 1990s instant messaging crossed over to Internet communication. In November 1996, ICQ was the first instant messaging software widely used by non-UNIX/Linux users on the Internet. After the introduction of ICQ, a certain number of instant messaging methods developed in many places at the same time, and various instant messaging programs had independent protocols and could not communicate with each other. This led users to run more than two instant messaging software at the same time, or they could use terminal software that supports multiple protocols, such as Gaim, Trillian or Jabber. In recent years, many instant messaging services have begun to provide video conferencing capabilities, and Internet phone (VoIP) and Internet conferencing services have begun to integrate the functions of both video conferencing and instant messaging. As a result, the distinction between these media has become increasingly blurred.
