[Ashley Weed]

For me, without instant messaging, there would be no me. We have had internet service in our very rural area since 1997, however just this year we are now sporadicaly seeing cell towers being constructed. In addition, MANY of us due to the extreme ruralness can remember party lines, and know that phones are not always a secure connection due to scanners (highway, police, fire) picking up on same frequencies as phones. Without my abilities to have instant messengers over the past 7 years, I would probably not even be 25% as social as I am today. From the early days of ICQ to my current days of Trillian Pro, I see it keeping me in touch with my very high tech life.

...... the newest thing I have seen, is individuals not having enough time to search for their new homes, and making real estate purchases in their busy lives. The alternative - the family, couple, individual - chats online with the real estate agent during the day or whenever convenient for all parties, and does all business transactions etc. and setting up viewings of houses through IM's. I know I greatly look forward to this.