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IM Glossary -- IM Client and Internet Terms
From 'clients' to 'spim,' the terminology behind instant messaging can often be intimidating for new users. This easy-to-use glossary can help demystify these terms for both new and seasoned messengers.
AIM Dashboard
AIM Dashboard acts as a central command center for AOL Instant Messenger.
AIM Lifestream
Familiar with AIM Lifestream? Learn what AIM Lifestream is and how you can use it to connect with friends and family.
AIM Log
What is an AIM log, where are they and how can I use them? Discover more about AIM logs.
AIM Theme?
What is an AIM theme? Learn more about AIM themes and what you can do with them.
AIM TXT
Want to use AIM on your cell phone? With AIM TXT, send free AIM IMs using your text messages without mobile web.
AirG Chat
What is AirG Chat? Learn more about the AirG Chat Mobile IM Chat.
Away Message
An away message conveys that a user is currently busy or not available to instant message.
Block
A block prevents a user from contacting another user over instant messenger.
Buddy Chat
Buddy Chat is a feature of AOL Instant Messenger allowing users to chat with more than one user in either a pre-existing or user-created chatroom.
Block Checker
What is a block checker? Learn what a block checker is and how IM users use block checkers.
Buddy Info
Buddy Info is a simple, user-created profile for AOL Instant Messenger.
Buddy List
The Buddy List is listing of other users a person regularly sends instant messages to.
Client
A client is an individual instant messenger.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is the practice of harassment or use of crude, violent or unwanted sexual language towards another user online.
Direct Connection
A Direct Connection allows AOL Instant Messenger users to send and receive multimedia files such as photos, audio and text documents.
Dogfooding
Dogfooding is the company-backing of its own products.
Expressions
A library of multimedia resources for AOL Instant Messenger.
GUI
A GUI (Graphical User Interface) is a visual or graphical system of elements designed by developers to help end users interact with an instant messenger client.
IM Logging
A feature which saves the dialogue between two IM users from every instant message sent.
Invisible Mode
Learn how invisible mode can help you avoid certain users while engaging in conversation with others.
Mobile Emulator
What is a mobile emulator? Learn how developers and mobile app users can use a mobile emulator on your computer.
Offline Messages
Offline messages are instant messages delivered and logged while a user is signed off their IM client.
Plugins
These small installer applications expand multimedia features to an IM client.
Profile
A document allowing other users to learn more about you, your interests and activities.
Rate Limiting
A security feature which prevents a user from sending too many instant messages at once.
Screenname
A handle which is used to identify users of an IM client.
Sexting
What is sexting? Learn more about sexting, explicit cell phoen pictures, sexually suggestive messages.
Shype
Do you shype? Learn what it means to shype and how you can ensure you aren't guilty of shyping?
Skins
Digital wallpaper for your IM client.
SMS Messages
A message sent directly to a cell phone via an IM client.
Social Networking
What is social networking? Learn more about social networking and why it is so important on the Internet.
Spam Bot
What is a spam bot? Learn what a spam bot is and why these malicious little critters can cause huge headaches for the Internet user.
Status Messages
Messages created by users to describe their current state or what they are doing.
Stealth Setting
A feature of Yahoo! Messenger which allows users to designate how other users see them on their individual friends list.
Tweet
Have you ever sent a tweet? Find out what tweeting is and how you can get in on this emerging Internet phenomenon.
Twitter Widget
What is a Twitter widget? Learn what they are and how to use a Twitter widget.
Yahoo Messenger for SMS
Need Yahoo Messenger on your cell phone? Yahoo Messenger for SMS uses text messages to send and receive IMs. Learn more about Yahoo's free cell phone service.
XAT Chat
What is XAT Chat? Learn about the free chat rooms site XAT Chat.