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Brandon De Hoyos
E-mail Brandon, Your Guide to IM

About.com Guide to Instant Messaging

As you may have noticed, Guides at About.com are real people writing about real topics that are meaningful to our everyday lives.

I am passionate about IM and willing to help anyone with questions, comments or concerns about the subject! Feel free to e-mail me at im.guide@about.com.

Join The Discussion!

Need a broader audience for your query? Join our online forum and meet other readers of About.com's Guide to Instant Messaging! It's a great place to find answers and meet new friends to add to your buddy list!

F.A.Q.

Q. What is IM?
A. IM connects at least two people through text-based messages sent and received between two computers. Typically, computers are connected to the Internet and messages are sent through an instant messaging program installed on the computer.
Q. How do I start IMing?
A. Before you can start sending IMs, you will need to choose your messenger, your screenname and install the appropriate IM program. Read more about getting started here on the About Guide to Instant Messaging!
Q. Which IM is best?
A. Every user's needs are different. While some may need simple text-based instant messaging and the ability to share files and photos, others might be interested in multimedia features like audio/video chat, instant message gaming and IM-to-phone calls.

Check out this handy comparison guide to discover which IM is best for you!

Explore Instant Messaging
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