Instant messaging allows you to quickly exchange messages with your online friends. It alerts you when you got email, stock quotes, when you are getting a file, when a file is done and even when you get response to your personal ads. LOL LOL You can use voice chat, live conference with group and can use web cam to see your friends online. Web cam is my favorite feature because I can sign to my deaf friends online nationwide. The funny part is when you friend has been gone too long away from the messenger you can ring the doorbell to alert them that you are still there. Everyone gets a kick out of it. In my case, it would not work for my friends to do to me due to my deafness and I get them every time for this. Hee Hee I would recommend this messenger to anyone. Thanks for reading. :-)